REV. JOHN 



Jr'ruoe 



ALMOND 



A TRUE STORY. 



IN FIVE PARTS. 



BY 



JOHN SCARLETT, 

•J If 



OF NEWARK CONFERENCE. 




Published for the Author, 
orange, n. j.: 

1883. 



3 



Copyrighted 1883, by 

JOHN SCARLETT. 



PRESS OF THE CHRONICLE, 
ORANGE, N. J. 



CONTENTS. 



PART I. 

Nativity and Early Life, . . . Page 1 1 

PART 11. 
Young Manhood and Skepticism, . . Page 29 

PART III. 
Repentence and Regeneration, . . Page 49 

PART IV. 
Call to Preach, and Christian Experience, Page 69 

PART V. 

Reflections and Anticipations, . . Page 89 



PREFACE.. 

The poem "Almond" was printed some years ago in the ChriS' 
iian Standard and Hotne Journal, in weekly installments, and 
some readers, especially my friends, desired to see it in book form. 
Their advice has influenced me in correcting and revising, in abridg- 
ing and adding to, the volume now presented in the following pages. 

The author, under the nom de plume of ALMOND, is an old man. 
His bodily flourishing is like that of the almond tree when it is in 
full bloom. His life has been long, active, somewhat singular in 
events and incidents, from peculiar circumstances and experiences. 
The dealings of God to him in his religious experience, since his 
conversion from skepticism to higher degrees in grace and providen- 
tial manifestations, have absorbed much of his meditations. Bible- 
thoughts, in Christ Jesus, on his knees, have been of spiritual profit 
to him, and he wishes to be useful, if he can, to others. All spirit- 
ual tendencies God-ward are from Christ, and are increased and 
strengthened by prayer and faith. Inward power of saving grace 
has given him some experience in overcoming temptations, and 
enduring sufferings with patience, and his tribulations have in- 
creased his knowledge of divine things. It is now pleasant in his 
old age to review the past, and to contemplate the goodness and 



6 PREFACE. 

mercy of God in thus prolonging his life and leading him in pro- 
bationary thoughts and activities, in the anticipation of future prob- 
abilities, from what on earth may be experienced of grace and truth. 
God will undoubtedly be perfectly consistent with Himself in regard 
to all his past dealings with him, and will never contradict in the 
least the words of His own inspiration, nor what through all time 
has transpired in the experience of His servants in the life to come. 

There is no truth that comes home to the Christian with more 
force than this : That all opposition to Christ is from falsehood, 
folly, wickedness, either singly or all combined. It is utterly im- 
possible to oppose Christianity by truth, goodness or wisdom. 
While if you add to skepticism all that is evil, execrable and abom- 
inable, you only strengthen it in its own true character. Did the 
whole world of sinners but receive and obey the " True Light," 
which Christ is, it would be a happy Christian world in less than 
twenty-four hours. To follow Christ fully can lead to no evil, but 
to everything that is good. 

Now the author is not contented to eat his morsel alone. He 
walks on a pleasant road in beautiful sunshine. He sees God in 
every star, in every sunbeam, in every rain-drop, in every flower, 
and in all the wide fields of surrounding nature. He sees God in 
the bible, in his heart and life, and all that pertains to the present 
and the coming world. He cannot bear to be selfish in his happy 
condition. Self meanness has no place in pure religion. The 
spiritual wealth received into the heart and mind by true believers 
is not like that of worldly possessions. The riches of an earthly ^ 
nature are increased by a decrease of the number of the rich, and 
diminished when you increase their number. The riches of faith 
increase by imparting to others, We will suffer loss by not being 



PREFACE. 7 

charitable in giving away our spiritual riches in large supplies. In 
this sense the more we strive to make rich, the more rich we our- 
selves become. Religion is like light. Luminous rays are con- 
stantly projected from the sun for the good of near, and distant, 
fevolvmg worlds, without diminishing the source whence they 
emanate. It is also like water. Streams run constantly from their 
fountains to supply the needs and wants found all abroad and 
around elsewhere. Religion is eminently social in its adaptation to 
the longings of immortal man. " No man liveth unto himself." 
He is created and redeemed to suppy a grand purpose in the uni- 
verse to the glory of God, or to suffer the conseqence. 

The author is gifted by nature with some degree of poetic taste. 
He has always been fond of poetry. His becoming a Christian did 
not change this fondness for fancy and feeling developed in poetry, 
While it has not been ministered to by themes beyond the bounds of 
Wholesome thought. Poetry is not religion, but it is not necessarily 
averse to it. "Charlotte Elizabeth," an eminent religious au- 
thoress, wore a precious stone in her finger-ring to look at in order 
to help her think. So poetry subserves a purpose, to some Christian 
thinkers, who anticipate its perfect display in heaven. All here 
claimed is taste for poetry. 

"Almond" is "a true story," setting forth incidents and facts 
connected somewhat with the author's life, illustrating the needs 
and wants of nature and the provisions and supplies of grace. I 
cannot explain why I chose the style of verse, in which the story 
appears. Neither can I tell why I sometimes have singular and 
Unpopular dreams. The poem has been composed at leisure hours, 
and has afforded pleasure to the writer. 

In assuming the name "Almond," I am as much at a loss to ex- 



8 PREFACE. 

plain as to tell why I chose the Spenserian stanza for my style of 
verse. Almond has an agreeable sound and suited my purpose. 
And, also, the almond tree is suggestive. "The almond tree," 
says Doctor Adam Clarke, " having white tlowers, is a fit emblem 
of an old man with his white locks," J, S, 



INTRODUCTION. 

The interest of a book is derived from both its subjeet-matter and 
its authorship. It is hence always gratifying to a reader to have 
some knowledge in advance of the writer whose productions he 
reads. The author of this volume is one whose personal character is 
a happy combination of the thoughful, the vivacious, the pure, and 
the true. With a spirit of child-like modesty and simplicity, an 
aim at once single and lofty, and a gift of utterance both entertain- 
ing and instructive, his ministry during almost forty years has been 
marked by a cheerful activity, a healthful popularity, and extensive 
usefulness. Of few men can it be said more truthfully, that "to 
know him is to love him." 

Although without early advantages of education, he nevertheless 
by diligent study in after years, and a close observation of men and 
things supplementing a rare intuition, has rendered himself, whether 
in the pulpit or out, not less acceptable and interesting to the 
cultured than to the rude. He may be said to be both a natural 
grammarian and logician ; and having a strongly poetic cast of 
mind, his preaching has been noted for the three qualities of correct- 
ness, strength and beauty. Let the strange reader add to these 
qualities great originality of thought aided in its utterance by a 
sanctified wit, and then from what has been said, he may form a 



lO INTRODUCTION. 

tolerably correct estimate of the man whose written effusions are 
now to engage his attention. The fountain we know to be good^ 
and such we think will be the reader's judgment concerning the 
streams. 

Humboldt, near the close of his life, wrote sadly to a friend—" I 
have now reached a cheerless old age." Such is not the old age of 
John Scarlett. Never was a Christian man and minister blessed 
with a more cheerful old age than he now enjoys. So much of pure 
sunshine is there in his spirit, conversation and preaching, that his 
friends can scarcely look upon him as old. 

Not only has the author become extensively known by his long 
itinerate ministry, but also by his contributions to the literature of 
the church. Besides occasional articles in the periodical press, he 
gave to the public several years since a small volume entitled 
"Converted Infidel," through the wide circulation of which very 
many became partially acquainted with his life and character who 
have never known him in person. That the book will both interest 
and edify those who shall read it, I cannot doubt. It combines 
humor and religion in a pleasing rhythm and well chosen rhymes, 
and no one can peruse it in the devout spirit in which it was written 
without becoming wiser and better. 

N. Vansant, 



ALMOND 



PART I. 

Nativity and Early Life. 



'Twill save us from a thousand snares. 

To seek religion young, 
Grace will preserve our foll'wing years, 

And make our virtue strong. 

IVatts. 

With echoing mind, to long remembered past, 

Let age appear, with locks of snowy white, 
Before events are in oblivion cast, 

And record give of things of young delight. 
And darker things reflecting sinful blight. 

The blossoming of youth has sweet perfume, 
And beautiful it is in morning light, 

And buddings here bear fruit beyond the tomb ; 
Here, seed in life we sow ; there, to the harvest come. 



12 ALMOND. 

So Almond now proposes, in his way, 

To sketch Hfe's incidents in humble rhyme ; 
To note events remembered in his day, 

From early dawn to post-meridian's prime. 
Regarding virtue and abhorring crime, 

Remarking how his fallen nature erred; 
And how God's spirit, in His own good time. 

Through Christ, in Mercy, in his conscience stirred. 
Some may be led to hear the voice that he has heard. 

By gifted ones displayed are talents rare. 

In classic lore let learned genius shine ; 
But Almond is no poet — does not dare 

To make pretensions to the " art divine." 
Small are his favors of the " Sacred Nine" ! 

Inspiring source is his from Bible-thought; 
All truths revealed in power so combine, 

That saving work of faith in heart is wrought ; 
And labor without this is toiling all for naught. 

Love's labor compensates both heart and mind. 

While past things pondered, wise experience brings. 
And joyous exercise does Almond find, 

In shaking drops from memory's drooping wings — 
Dew drops of thought reflecting many things. 

Hope lures him onward through life's brief sojourn; 
Such is the fruit that faith in Jesus brings. 

He does not exercise his faith to mourn — 
To heavy burdens bear and " grievous to be borne." 



NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE. 13 

In scenes surveyed by memory of yore, 

Young boyhood's laughing days do come again ; 
Yet early scenes recall'd are clouded o'er, 

By vaunting villainies of vicious men ! 
Intemperance the cause ! Nine out of ten 

Were ruined by it ; who, by Rum, were wed 
To wretched filth, like porkers in a pen. 

From out their circle every virtue fled ; 
And they, to Reason's voice and Heaven's call, were dead. 

Young ladies with young gentlemen did vie, 

In HoUday's fine froHcsome array; 
In dancing mood the wasted hours roU'd by. 

Each striving to be " gayest of the gay," 
Setting far off the coming evil day. 

Displaying charms that pleased perverted sight. 
While sweating fiddler sawed the time away, 

To utter " sound of revelry by night," 
Till broke enchanted spell by break of morning light. 

Like " squabbHng imps," some lads were '' full of fight," 

Their pugilistic knuckles to employ ; 
It was " the manly science " in their sight ; 

Oh ! how it germs of goodness did destroy ! 
And spoiled the " coming man " in blighted boy ! 

" The fighting boys are smart," 'twas often said. 
And such were taught "good fighting" to enjoy, 

And "Rings" of" Roughs" make ominous parade, — 
To smartness in this fine are " bristling honors " paid. 



14 ALMOND. 

Bad habits in the young the Light obscure- 

And sin is Winding in self-closing eyes. 
Its " wages " workers hate, yet hate sin's cure, 

And guilt of crime comes to them with surprise, 
When taste for gracious things within them dies. 

They "know not what they do," — while thus inclined — 
For needs of grace all unbeHef denies. 
A paradox is man — in heart and mind — 
Without reveahng Truth is ever undefined. 

And yet to native Jersey Almond clung. 

In "Wanaque" there is some pleasant ground. 
Against its mountains see bright rain-bows flung ; 

Its fields were beautiful with verdure crowned. 
And echoing rocks gave back each vocal sound. 

The red deer, leaping, with his antlers high, 
Was there ; and wolves, too many did abound. 

They came — fierce, hungry, hideous, howling^ — n.igh. 
Such were among events of early days gone by. 

Then Almond was of visionary mind, 

His means of learning limited and few; 
He thought the earth one level plane outlined, 

W^here the horizon meets the concave blue. 
For Science had not given him a true 

Idea, geographic, of our globe. 
The stars, he thought, were jewels bright and new. 

Their depth in azure space beyond mind's probe; 
Night, as a queen, displayed her diadem and robe. 



NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE. 1 5 

One glance of memory does quickly bring 

The scenes of early childhood into mind ; 
They come afresh as dewy flowers in Spring — 

When Memory gleans she leaves the worst behind. 
Life's dewy morning upon Almond shined ; 

The verdant mountain seemed an emerald wall ; 
The lakelet seemed with emerald outHned ; 

It glass' d the sky — when showers did not fall — 
And "Iris' flaming bow" seemed Nature's coronal. 

The rural mountain oft did Almond climb, 

To gaze where Nature spread her fields of air. 
Clouds piled on clouds in blue expanse sublime, 

Within the wide horizon's rim ; and where 
The sights were fanciful, and grand, and rare, 

" And distance lent enchantment to the view." 
Above, the boundless arching sky so fair, 

Below, the mists denoting falling dew. 
The moon, round, rising full, hung out in faultless blue. 

Such were rich Nature's showings, when the morn 

Of early life disclosed them to young eyes. 
Untainted light to nature's mind inborn 

Reveals pure nature in true native dyes. 
The young, the pure, the fond, feel glad surprise 

When first beholding what their Maker made ; 
To young impressions memory ever flies, 

To view bright pictures on young minds portrayed^ 
Before sin's dragon wing may cast them in the shade. 



1 6 ALMOND. 

Her pencil Fancy dips in Memory's light, 

To paint realities — not seen in dreams — 
For pictures drawn by Truth give pure delight 

To such as revel in its golden beams. 
Let childhood joyous follow purling streams. 

And pass again through Morning's shining hours ! 
I see those sunny hours, in far-off gleams, 

Revealing hills and vales with native flowers, 
And brooks, and banks, and birds, and leafy green-robed 
bowers. 

How sensitive was Almond's mind while young — 

He felt that heaven had on him a claim ; 
Yet superstition to his fancy clung, 

Naught could his wild imagination tame ; 
On moon-light evenings fairies to him came. 

For "airy nothings" oft he sought to find 
" A local habitation and a name," 

To proper causes — their effects — how blind 
He was in youth : What need of cultivated mind ! 

The closely folded bud has leaves within. 

Which time, in season, carefully unfolds ; 
Streams, too, are small when they their course begin — 

Soon swell to rivers, as our sight beholds — 
And mind, while young and tender, easier moulds, 

As fountains starting make the swelling streams. 
So germs of mind the bud of childhood holds. 

Both heart and brain should grow to ripe extremes ; 
The highest, brightest noon begins with morning beams. 



NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE. I^ 

His "boyhood-years" had reach'd the age oi ni?iey 

When Almond was o'erwhelm'd with dread aifright 
Of coming woe. He saw the bloody sign ! 

We must in second war with England fight ! 
And surely we Americans were right ! 

Ah, how exciting to the nervous child ! 
It came Hke "biting frost" fond hopes to blight, 

To gory fields how many were beguiled, 
On cold bright steel to bleed! Who could be reconciled? 

Yet he, too, felt the patriotic flame, 

As freemen battled in their country's cause ; 
There was a pleasing sound in Freedom's name, 

Denoting Nation with its wholesome laws. 
On banner borne attracting hearts it was, 

Asserting right against oppressive wrong. 
Although in systems grand there may be flaws. 

In heart he did to Liberty belong; 
He loved its truth and laws, in sentiment and song. 

The magic web — the sheet of stars — unrolled. 

With eagle boldly gazing at the sun ; 
How did that flag inspire, in days of old, 

The heroes that so nobly fought to run 
This form of government, their " valor won ! "' 

When Almond heard it rustle in the gale. 
He heard the story of great actions done, 

And he believed the heart-inspiring tale. 
And that no tyrant foe against it can prevail. 



l8 ALMOND. 

And yet a cloud hung o'er our bleeding land, 

And blood from cruel war in torrents ran ; 
The raging fire which evil winds had fanned, 

Brought fearful omens of the Corsican ! 
'Twas fear'd Napoleon our State would man, 

And rule the Thirteen States we called our own ; 
To fight we were not strong, nor wise to plan, 

We could (some thought) be easy overthrown, 
Because we were not yet to perfect manhood grown. 

Peace came ; but war had left its surging wake 

Of poverty and spoiled humanity behind. 
Let Providence the sword of battle break. 

And still the cannon, and to powder grind 
All opposition to the Christian mind ; 

And check ambition by the power of love. 
And make men sober, moderate and kind. 

All nations then in harmony would move. 
And own the Head Supreme that rules the realms above. 

What ignorance of things that now combine, 

To show how truth, with genius, must prevail, 
No steamer then ha^i crossed the " foaming brine ;" 

To shifting winds was spread the hoisted sail. 
No force did aid them but the driving gale. 

Now science shows how httle they did know; 
Inventive genius has removed the vail ; 

Far-reaching sounding-lines does science throw, 
In voids of space above, in ocean-depths below. 



NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE. I9 

No diver then in armour submarine, 

Brought up lost treasure from the deep salt sea, 
Long ranging guns by science sighted keen, 

Were not the boast of ancient chivalry. 
Such wonders then were things that were to be ; 

No sparks electric " hasty powder fired," 
The channels of the deep from rocks to free ; 

Swift travel then was not as now required, 
Nor steaming iron horse, by all the world admired. 

Whilom prophetic vision did not see 

What genius would accomplish in our age, 
With sun-beam pencils writing history 

In life-like pictures on the glowing page. 
The beau, the belle, the savage and the sage. 

Were not, as now, " the children of the light ;" 
A war with darkness science had to wage ; 

Long was its struggle in cimmerian night, 
Eefore its skies were clear and promising and bright. 

In times remote — when Almond was a boy — 

He saw the sun-beam kiss the blushing flower, 
And such bright scenes did make him laugh for joy, 

To be remembered long the blissful hour. 
No gloomy clouds around his path did lower ; 

He did not see the angel in the sun ; 
Nor yet were known by men its limning power ; 

No painting equal to it had been done ; 
Science had not as yet such great achievements won. 



20^ ALMONlr. 

With " sound of words" the wondrous telephone- 
Had not yet utter' d its far-speaking voice — 

Its strains of melody were not made known, 
In causing distant circles to rejoice ; 

At song and speaking to the taste and choice,. 
As music-breathings charm the social air. 

So, too, the invented phonograph employs 
Our thoughts in words it has recorded there,, 
And come in echoes back as witnesses declare. 

Our round, green earth reflects the solar ray, 

And Hghtning long to it has blessings brought; 
Wire-drawn and silent it gives mental play ; 

For lightning is the vehicle of thought. 
This subject is with vital interest fraught — 

How long it slumbered deep in mystery ! 
But grandest measures now are being wrought,, 

That mind from every fetter may be free. 
And that with wires of thought the globe may circled be. 

Dread lightning has its properties and laws. 

And Franklin knew its subtilty and force — 
Could trace its latent nature to its cause — 

Control and guide it in its vivid course ; 
Yet far advanced in light our modern Morse. 

He fix'd metahc nerve for thought and word; 
Improvements will be made without r<?morse. 

The meed of praise to him will all accord, 
The lightning-belted world will speak his just reward.. 



NATIVri-Y AND EARLY LIFE. 21 

But must I cast poor Almond in the shade, 

Because of ancient lack of learned lore ? 
I turn to him who was for thinking made, 

Yet Science did against him shut her door. 
In sohtude he loved to hear the roar 

Of coming storm — congenial to his mind. 
Sometimes on fancy's wing he tried to soar 

Through realms romantic, dreamy, unconfined. 
In search of lasting wealth— so hard on earth to find. 

When but a Httle boy he read the Word 

And longed for something that would make him good, 
Some sign of comfort from the gracious Lord, 

Supplying him with spiritual food, 
A reason for his thoughtful pensive mood. 

He was not noted for outbreaking sin. 
And yet he thought on God in soHtude ; 

He felt a consciousness of wrong within. 
And Oh, he wished at last a heavenly home to win. 

To hill-side cottage home he bid adieu ; 

To work for food and raiment he was " bound,"* 
So Almond found his occupation new, 

E'er twice seven summers had his face imbrown'd. 
(In out-door exercise does health abound,) 

While toiling he in retrospection sees 
The books he left, and school and old playground, 

And humble home amidst the shady trees, 
O'erhung with leafy vines that quivered in the breeze. 

*I still have the '' ludeulure" of my apprenticeship, in my father's 
autograph. 



22 ALMOND. 

The country farm is favorable ground 

For Christian famiUes to occupy; 
When health and wealth by industry abound, 

Through Him who gives the singleness of eye ; 
True causes then are traced to Deity. 

To honest hearts is God in Christ revealed, 
And farmers see the proof of rich supply, 

Of cereals and fruit of nature's yield ; 
And living Faith sees Him in crops of fertile field. 

The young warm heart is readily impress' d, 

With Truth revealed — the Spirit helps it feel 
Its need, and wisely shows it what is best 

In what the " Lively Oracles" reveal. 
As wax receives impression from the seal, 

So God to faith His likeness gives to guide. 
The Christian standard of direct appeal 

We have. We may in words of Christ confide. 
The Truth in Christ makes free. We may in Him abide. 

Young farmers love the "incense-breathing morn" — 

The grassy mead and "liHes of the field" — 
The blooming clover and " embattled corn," 

And all that fertile land to taste may yield. 
What men the implements of science wield, 

And signs of goodness are by faith beheld. 
If unbelief prevails, why, then concealed 

Are precious truths from souls by sin impelled ; 
For from the skeptic mind is saving truth withheld. 



NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE. 23 

A camera there is — of soul — in man, 

For likeness of " the Christ" — the ground is there. 
Unfolded is this in the Gospel Plan. 

All men through Jesus may His image bear, 
And grace for this does " every man" prepare. 

By life from Christ are first impressions made, 
Admitted light the spirit brings with care. 

Through faith in God are Christ-like things portrayed 
On canvas of the soul in lines that never fade. 

In rural districts there is much to meet 

The eye. The mind with sentiment inspires ; 
Surrounding goodness does the farmer greet, 

Showing that God his gratitude requires. 
His heart impressed, God's benefits admires. 

The Hand in earthly things that works for him. 
Devotion true his faithful spirit fires. 

Unless, o'ercome by some delusive whim, 
He lets his light go out— his lamp of life bum dim. 

But Almond soon must part with native woods — 

The hills and vales to which his choice was wed — 
His lonely haunts where somber silence broods, 

And often where he was by fancy led, 
To have his mind by nature's voicings fed. 

The song of birds was pleasant to his ear ; 
He thought of work not with a scornful dread. 

But such as make man's recreations dear. 
Through toil does nature smile where frown'd the desert 
drear. 



24 ALMOND. 

Have sages said that solitude has charms ? 

For city Hfe have many left the shade 
Of rural, rustic scenes, of country farms. 

Becoming gentlemen of busy trade. 
That heavy fortunes be by sharpness made. 

" The love of money" is the pride of knaves. 
The seaman's eye has much of earth surveyed. 

And works and ways of God. Who ocean braves ; 
Who wanders wide, wild wastes of welt'ring watery waves, 

A strong desire to learn the printing art 

Was Almond's, that would lead to destiny 
Propitious, typing forth his social part. 

To be enacted in society, 
Helping the thinking, reading industry ; 

But poverty was his in its turmoil ; 
He bowed obedience to stern decree. 

While he Hfe's thread continues to uncoil. 
He'll 'mind him to the last of Crispin seat of toil. 

His energies he thought were much confined; 

He weary wax'd in Crispin's stringent bond; 
For he was not to mental beauty blind ; 

Of science he was passionately fond. 
And o'er him Learning held her magic wand. 

In memory his readings were retained; 
His thinkings swell'd his former years beyond. 

His strength increased and difficulties waned. 
Thus loved, the seeds of thought brought fruit of thinking 
gained. 



NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE. 2$ 

From farm to " bench " did localize his view ; 
To out-door musings he was much inclined ; 
■ Incitements from associations new 

He found congenial to his active mind ; 
And change of place and change of thought combined, 

New light, new clouds on his new path to throw. 
Oh, what is most important for mankind, 
For which so many travel " to and fro ?" 
Is it for wealth and fame they heavenly joys forego? 

Probation's seed we sow. The harvest time 

Of destiny to all will surely come. 
The fruit of " faith in God " or fruit of crime, 

Will bring the fixedness of final doom. 
To flout its equity some dare presume. 

But moral law will never have an end. 
'Twill be the same to man beyond the tomb ; 

The attributes divine will ever tend 
Its rectitude unstained in honor to defend. 

True motives leading to be good and wise , 

Are not encircled by the human mind. 
Inspired they are that virtue may arise. 

And vice, low doomed, sin-bound be left behind ; 
So that rewards be suitable, in kind. 

To chosen Hfe on earth; for God is just, 
In making each his proper level find. 

Beyond the confines of man's sleeping dust, 
Predicted things will tell — to be fulfilled they must. 



26 ALMOND, 

God governs wisely "the stupendous whole;" 

Even chance and change are at the Lord's command; 
All time and hours and space, and orbs that roll 
Are His. With atoms forming sea and land, 
Confessing His design's upholding hand, 
« Through His true spirit we may apprehend, 
As " Battle " has it — His decree must stand — 
" Which bade the series of events extend 
Wide through unnumbered worlds, and ages without end.'* 

The scenes of early life have passed away; 

Its stormy seasons and its sunny hours, 
And all befalling him till manhood's day. 

Were known of Him the sovereign of all powers. 
Who works His will through Time, and calms and 
showers. 

So Almond deems it has been good for him 
To know the gloomy cloud that often lowers — 

To have affliction's cup filled to the brim. 
The prototypes of heaven appear to us as dim. 

The verdant green down-sloping to the lake. 

The mirror-lake" with heaven's reflected blue. 
With foliage fringed with fern and "tangled brake,"' 

And bank adorned with flowers of richest hue. 
Let morning's jewelry of pearly dew 

Add its fresh beauty to attract the sight ; 
To young-eyed visionaries they are new. 

But seen by Christians in their real light. 
They typify a world of spiritual delight. 



NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE. 27 

A home of saints where beauties do abound, 

Where every element of life is pure ; 
Where every thought, and touch, and sight, and sound, 

From sin's corrupt invasion made secure; 
And must, with God, eternally endure. 

Of types on earth the antitypal prize. 
Of shadowy tilings the living substance sure. 

Beyond the stars that home in glory lies; 
Immortal bloom is there beneath serener skies. 

That home be his whatever else befall 

The lot of Almond, in this vale of woe. 
In this bleak world sojourning, suffer all 

His trials needed in this scene below. 
And the clean record of God's truth will show. 

Here must his soul be saved and purified. 
Before he can to heavenly mansions go. 

With saints and angels he must be allied. 
If he with Christ would reign — with Him be glorified. 



ALMOND. 



PART 11. 

Young Manhood and Skepticism. 



Blind unbelief is sure to err, 
And scan his work in vain 

God is his own interpreter, 
And he will make it plain. 



Cozopcr. 



To early manhood Almond did aspire. 

He longed to walk with men and be a man ! 
Some showy things he did too much admire ; 

For native pride through all his being ran, 
And gusts of passion did its fires fan. 

His better judgment of the good and true 
Did sometimes echo to the saving plan ; 

But still he sought what seemed to him more new- 
Earth-born, romantic themes, congenial with his view. 



30 ALMOND. 

The young in manhood, Hke the rising morn. 

Are fresh and hopeful in their happy light ; 
They need new hearts, or unbelieving scorn 

May blast their prospects with a mildew blight. 
Tor all of good, and true, and wise, and right 

Is seen alone by Taith's anointed eye : 
Before them are two paths, one dark, one bright ; 

Their will is free ; and this is reason why 
Their faith or unbelief will fix their destiny ! 

* 
To Newark, widely known, was Almond led 

To be a resident, and learn a trade. 
'Twas famed for true religion, many said. 

So Sabbath-breaking, then, did not invade 
Its sacred precincts with a blighting shade ! 

Revivals then were powerful and deep ; 
And were to hundreds special blessings made — 

And blessings long in memory to keep. 
By such as faithful prove, so heavenly harvests reap. 

How pleased he was, in those young days of yore, 

With city Hfe, then suited to his mind. 
He had some privileges that before 

He did not have, in what was left behind. 
And there was good by Providence designed. 

But mercy, when abused, its harvest brings ! 
It always has a tendency to blind. 

How dangerous to trifle with such things ! 
It leads to fruitless grief and sin's remorseful stings. 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 3 1 

Along the river's bank he often strolled, 

The solitudes of nature to survey. 
Through vaulted azure orbs in silence rolled; 

White clouds, wind wafted, hurried toward the bay ; 
. The fields around in nature's dress look'd gay; 

But now how changed the scenes from ancient views ! 
Buildings superb, resplendent, in array; 

Long streets, well made, and tasteful avenues. 
Declare advance in wealth, that some may read as news. 

Advance in wealth, in knowledge, wisdom, power 

Is pertinent to ever-working-man ! 
Mind's kingdom is enlarging every hour; 

Has been progressing since the world began, 
With cultured genius leading on the van. 

So will it be in all the coming years; 
For it is in the wise, unerring plan 

Of Him whose hand " shall wipe away all tears," 
To hush the sound of war and calm all human fears. 

The world will change — its towns to cities grow ; 

And ever-varying fashion change its ways ; 
But true religion, while on earth below, 

Will never change, through time nor change of place ; 
For Christ is author of Atoning Grace ; 

And He, " to-day as yesterday," the same. 
Supreme perfection cannot change ; but stays 

And beams an inextinguishable flame ! 
To man's immortal good and glory to His name ! 



32 



ALMOND. 



How dark was Venus with "excessive bright," 

When we beheld her "transit" o'er the sun ! 
So minds of unbeUef, against the Light, 

Would spot the brightness of the Holy One ! 
By infidels how often it is done ! 

When, to their ear the Gospel is proclaimed. 
They treat it with vile ridicule, and fun ; 

And by them erring Christian work is blamed ; 
And what a stretch of grace they ever are reclaimed ! 

The Hving theme of saving Gospel grace 

Did Almond hear from Joseph Lybrand's tongue. 
It suited so pecuHarly his case 

That its keen arrows with conviction stung 
His inmost heart, and tears the sermon wrung. 

Impressively, to be remembered long, 
So well adapted was it to the young, 

It warned us all to do our souls no wrong. 
In spirit it was true, deep searching, sound and strong. 

Great Griffin heard he, too— that Man of God ! 

A mighty worker in his Master's cause ! 
A strong believer in Atoning Blood ! 

In pulpit eloquence a giant was ! 
Oh, how he gloried in the Bleeding Cross ! 

He bound his hearers as by magic spell. 
He did not mix God's truth with error's dross ; 

And tears with words most copiously fell. 
His gold was owned of God — fine, pure and beaten well ! 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 33, 

One cloudy eve a meeting held for prayer 

Drew Almond and induced him to attend. 
Snow flakes, slow falling, through the dusky air, 

Did, to that night, a solemn aspect lend. 
Then first, to God his knees in prayer did bend ! 

His sinful heart made him of heaven afraid ; 
And yet each praying soul did seem his friend ! 

The Blessed Spirit, striving with him, said, 
" Give your young heart to Him who has your ransom 
paid!" 

The famed, the great, the gifted Summerfield ! 

The hero-herald, and the youthful brave. 
His genius rare, of Nature's richest yield, 

And grace to him its Christ-like spirit gave. 
A polish' d shaft was he to wound, to save. 

His slender form and angel-face did say, 
" I am not long to be this side the grave ; 

Short in this trial-state, will be my stay ; 
I shall be satisfied at heaven's crowning day ! " 

He went — the flaming herald — through the land ; 

And God was with him where so'er he went. 
The message well he bore, of heaven's command. 

To tens of thousandB on this continent. 
For this great purpose was the preacher sent. 

His implements were skillfully applied. 
His bow was strained by keeping too much bent ! 

It broke ! His sword-cut sheath hung at his side.. 
The youthful martyr fejl ! He in. the harness died ! 



34 ALMOND. 

Impressions deep did Almond feel awhile ; 

And he revered in heart the Christian name. 
But persecution, with its scornful smile. 

And ridicule his courage overcame. 
He was in willful waywardness to blame. 

He should have listened to the Spirit's voice ; 
And not have quenched its renovating flame ! 

He should have exercised his power of choice 
Believingly in Christ. All may in Him rejoice ! 

There came, ah, soon, a melancholy day ! 

The day of tidings that his father died ! 
Must he behold his parent's lifeless clay ? 

And his poor mother ! Who would safely guide 
The weeping orphans through a breach so wide ? 

From earth, alas, no soothing balm could come. 
For death had brush'd their fondest hopes aside, 

And left no ray to dissipate the gloom. 
No charm could break the cold embraces of the tomb ! 

The dismal gloom that shrouded the event. 

With clouds that night that vail'd the weeping sky, 
Was saddened, as the lightning, darkness rent, 

And crashing thunder told the stroke was nigh ! 
The storm-wind, loaded with the orphans' cry. 

Bore it away in blasts beyond control. 
Grief finds no reason why our friends should die. 

True sympathy with sorrow may condole. 
Yet naked nature sinks when waves o'erwhelming roll ! 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. ;^^ 

" How was it with that parent ?" strangely came 

To him inquiring voice, that made him sad. 
" Was he in mind and consciousness the same ? 

And would he, lovingly, be always glad ? " 
A secret not revealed. He should have had 

A better thought for his own doing well. 
But doubt, instead, despairingly forbade. 

His musing in him wrought a horrid spell. 
His hope of loving life was tolling its death knell ! 

This sore bereavement of his wounded heart, 

Like barbed arrows, in his tortured breast, 
Sin's pain to harden only did impart. 

With conscious grief and misery oppressed, • 

His wounded spirit found no place of rest. 

Like torn sea-weed, by random surges driven. 
As, borne along upon their foaming crest, 

He dash'd against the Rock — was bruised and riven. 
The strong. Great sheltering Rock, for weary wand'rers 



This stroke was stunning to his strength of mind ; 

For source of blessedness by him ignored. 
What poignant bitterness did Almond find ; 

And yet some piercings by the Spirit's sword — 
Adapted portions of the Living Word — 

Came to him ; but, alas, they did not stay ! 
His wonted buoyancy of mind restored. 

He turned from sorrow, striving to be gay ; 
Dissolved his mournful night in beams of mirthful day ! 



36 ALMOND. 

His good impressions spoiled, because some laughed 

And pointed persecution pierced his pride. 
His thirsty nature sinful pleasure quaff'd ; 

His good desire to be a Christian died ; 
And inclination floated down the tide, 

Away from God and his restraining power. 
And then his conscience was no law to guide ! 

His seriousness he let the world devour. 
And turned from Christ away in an unthinking hour ! 

Then, Almond, straying in a devious way. 

Experienced desolate and dreary hours. 
His skeptic company had nought to say. 

But such discourse as marred their social powers. 
The mind, how soon with unbelief it sours. 

When spoiling leaven has been in it cast ! 
The heart, unsaved, before the tempter cowers. 

When memory recalls the wasted past. 
And conscience views the fruit in consequences vast. 

Away from what was true, and wise, and pure. 

To vain and empty unsubstantial things 
He turned, his state of wretchedness to cure. 

For conscience, not yet dead, had clamorings ; 
He felt, at times, severe its inward stings ; 

And " Volney's Ruins " did not help his brain ; 
The " Age of Reason" falsehood to him brings, 

In which the author's " Common Sense " is slain 
By " True and Fabulous Theology," of Paine ! 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 37 

Within life's warm, green, healthful, shining zone, 

This praying ground — this mercy-belted sphere — 
To drink in pleasure was his nature prone ; 

Nature impressed him, through his eye and ear ; 
The stars to him did beautiful appear. 

As diamonds glittering in the vaulted sky ; 
He watched their changes through the circling year. 

The yellow sunshine, to his fancy's eye, 
Unwound its golden skeins as it o'er fields swept by. 

He loved to gaze on orbs that shone sublime, 

In cloudless blue, " at witching time o' night ;" 
Their wond'rous speed so measured was by time — 

So far away, in "unbuilt space," their Hght, 
Swift cleaving, never reaches human sight. 

On what a journey are such sunbeams bound ! 
Still earthward coming, with their swiftest flight. 

Through measureless and trackless voids profound; 
And yet by telescope some rays have not been found. 

Let mind once wander through unbounded space. 

How dwindles into smallness finite man ! 
Ephemeral appears the human race ! 

When was it that the years of time began ? 
What period, in past ages, led the van ? 

Such views took Almond, with his carnal mind. 
His pride of intellect desired to scan 

The things unsearchable by human kind. 
He had not learned in God he perfect rest might find.. 



38 ALMOND. 

The mind can chase the sunbeams in their flight, 

As swift they wing their shafts through voids of 
space ; 
Can, by the spectrum, analyze the Hght 

Of distant suns; so caging, holding, rays, 
Their elements and properties to trace. 

In what their beams transport, to scrutinize. 
'Tis wonderful ! What knowledge light conveys ! 

When its true worth we fairly realize 
Man is, in privilege, exalted to the skies. 

The Source of being is the source of good ; 

His works do manifest His wise design. 
How clear this truth, yet little understood ; 

Bright worlds are "ever singing as they shine;" 
^'The hand that made us," say they, "is Divine." 

To this did Almond hold, without debate, 
Yet, unbehef, with darkness, did combine 

To turn his heart away from "Mercy's Gate" — 
To trample on that Blood that none can overrate ! 

The Living Oracles of source divine 

Are streams that reach us from their fountain source. 
In human conscience they unbidden shine, 

And act on souls with renovating force. 
Arresting sinners in their perverse course. 

They put new life in the beheving soul. 
And smite the guilty conscience with remorse ; 

They give the heart and mind a wise control. 
That round the Central Power they may Hke planets roll. 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 39 

This knowledge skeptic Almond did ignore ; 

He lost all relish for the Sacred Page. 
The promises of life that charmed before, 

Put now his evil passions in a rage; 
For darkness will with light a contest wage. 

A siren's song by mibeHevers sung, 
He took for grave, strong reason of the sage." 

The file he gnawed ; and like the viper wrung. 
The copious blood he drank from his own bleeding tongue. 

His native humor and perverted wit 

He did employ against the good and true. 
In wounding others he himself was hit ; 

From his own sowing partly reap'd his due ; 
Yet blindly did the evil way pursue. 

He stood opposed to sin's provided cure. 
What else could unbefieving nature do ? 

For grace, through faith, alone can make us pure. 
The facts revealed of grace shall ever more endure. 

Man's intellect sees not the spirit's light — 

Is like a reptile in a rock confined. 
Wall'd in, excluded, is the sense of sight ; 

So is, from God, the doubting carnal mind, 
Shut in by moral darkness that makes Wind. 

Thousands divested of immortal aim. 
So disregarding purpose that designed 

Their being, self-determining; that blame 
Of weighty import, they incur of guilt and shame. 



40 ALMOND. 

Almond was reckless in a Godless world — 

Fast drifting downward in the ruthless storm ; 
Exposed to fiery darts by Satan hurled. 

No shield of faith protected him from harm, 
No soothing grasp of hand with friendship warm 1 

A shipv^recked mariner in heart and mind, 
He heeded not the message of alarm. 

As though it had been empty idle wind; 
No rest, outside of Christ — no refuge could he find. 

His way was sHppery in the dark, and he, 

Lured by delusive fancy to beguile 
His doubts, defending by his sophistry. 

To cover up the precious with the vile. 
His principles afloat he read awhile 

The pages printed for the " Age of Reason." 
The humor it displays, and vulgar style, 

And gilded falsehood, blur the moral vision ; 
Of sacred things it is most blasphemous derision. 

He had a dream. The Judgment was at hand ! 

And clouds unusual muftied up the sun. 
(Before the Judgment seat we all must stand,) 

And knell of Time was heard by every one ; 
All earthly work by every man was done. 

And loud at last the trump of God did sound I 
And Christian destiny was lost and won ; 

And sin was leaving its unending wound 
And Almond in despair no hope of refuge found. 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 41 

He saw a sight ! Ah ! that was not a dream ! 

A dying deist I What a ghastly grin 
Did mark his features ! How he did blaspheme, 

While dying ! Was it not the work of sin ? 
In finishing did punishment begin ? 

And will the spirit's torment never end ? 
Is " wrath to come," not typified within, 

While dying out of Christ the sinner's friend ? 
Awhile this awful scene did Almond's bosom rend ! . 

He oft had heard the boasting deist say, 

" An easy thing indeed it was to die !" 
" Like vapory smoke his soul would pass away, 

Without repentant or reluctant sigh ; 
He would be favored much were Almond nigh, , 

And swore to him it would a pleasure be 
To strengthen his young friend in doubt thereby ! 

To fit him for his needed bravery 
In warring against Christ and Immortality !" 

O, save from gloom of such resigning breath. 

Thine own. Most High and Lofty One in Heaven ! 
Oh ! never more let Almond see such death ! 

Let sin's uncleanness from the soul be driven ! 
And unbelief, that vile satanic leaven. 

Be all cast out. — Then, see the Christian die ! 
Serene and quiet as the sunset even. 

His heart is full of love ! His hopeful eye 
Is viewing his high home where his possessions lie. 



42 ALMOND. 

Although no moral scars had stained his fame ; 

Nor, had dishonest motives led astray, 
Nor deed of low devices blurred his name. 

The ethics taught by ancient Seneca 
Could not his fearful apprehensions stay ! 

Oh ! how could he endure the ills of life ! 
His was a bleak and dismal, stormy day ! 

His lonely thinking was with sorrows rife. 
The Tempter then proposed the suicidal knife ! 

The lowering heavens seemed of conscious gloom, 

Hanging o'er Almond with presaging blight, 
Sweet flowers did smile all beautiful in bloom, 

And gushing fountains played in spark'ling light. 
Oh ! they but tantalized his aching sight ! 

The green-rimmed lake its glassy mirror held, 
To catch the image of the heavens bright ! 

Such things by " pure religion " were excelled. 
Against the Source of Good his unbeUef rebelled ! 

The yellow sunshine seem'd of sickly hue ! 

" The cold, round moon " unsocial walked alone^ 
And morning wept for him her drops of dew ; 

The sighing wind had warning in its tone ; 
Eolean music told of pleasures gone ! 

His jaundiced vision frightful pictures saw, 
Within the morbid melancholy zone 

That circled him ! With deep despairing awe 
He feared unending doom, fixed by unchanging Law. 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 45 

The gloomy grave before his vision yawn'd, 

And death seem'd greedy for its wretched prey. 
No morning on the tomb to him had dawn'd ; 

On immortaUty no ghmmering ray, 
That told the coming of undying day ! 

He wander' d 'mong the tombs at night alone, 
Among the monuments in white array ; 

Cold marble only — there o'er loved ones gone — 
The midnight winds were there ; made melancholy moan. 

As scorpion circled by its ring of fire, 

Self-pierced seeks dying by its venom'd sting ; 
As Gorgons, Hydras, and chimeras dire, 

In fabled times to men did horrors bring ; 
So did his unbeHef bring sorrowing. 

Unhappy principles did in him blend ; 
To dreary Winter turned his hopeful Spring. 

His present to its final Hell did trend — 
To sin's immortal goal where torments never end ! 

He feared the fires of ever-during pain. 

As memory's long records would unroll. 
Revealed to him Hke punishment of Cain. 

A pang with which no friend can e'er condole ; 
The conscious dying of a Hving soul ! 

" Deputed conscience " in forestalling doom ; 
And yet he shunned the Light as does the mole. 

His was an ominous and fearful gloom, 
Foreshadowing to him events beyond the tomb. 



44 ALMOND. 

Tormented Tantalus, with parching thirst, 

Amid the waves that ever from him fled, 
Reminded Almond that some may be curs' d. 

He had an inward secret pining dread 
■Of his best faculties becoming dead. 

A startling woe was heard in every sound ! 
The lightning with "uncommon wrath" was "red;" 

His tortured immortality was bound 
On fabled Ixion's wheel, to roll its painful round ! 

Man's Hfe on earth grace makes his testing sphere; 

He may possess by faith the godly mind. 
Neglecting to be saved while living here, 

Christ's peaceful kingdom he will never find. 
But sin and darkness in him so combined, 

Will spoil his vision for the light of hope. 
To faith and love he will be deaf and blind, 

So Almond in the dark was doom'd to grope. 
A sun-obscuring fly was in his Telescope. 

Survey the only remedy for sin, 

Until sin's curse our hope of heaven harms ; 
Until its raging malady within 

Is seen by Light that selfishness disarms. 
Roused by the threat'ning Law with " dire alarms !" 

We hear the voice that penitence can hear. 
Then first to us the cross of Christ has charms ; 

Faith gives to gospel sound " a hearing ear ;" 
" A sound mind" we receive for bondage and for fear. 



YOUNG MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 45 

Ah, long did Almond mourn with feelings deep, 

With doleful musings at the midnight hour, 
Among the graves where buried mortals sleep ; 

How dreamy were the scenes ! The blooming flower 
Gave views of quiet life in summer bower ! 

Oh ! had the buried ones all died in faith ? 
Or did on some depressing shadows lower ? 

Did sentient fire of soul go out at death ? 
Is conscious thinking spirit naught but empty breath ? 

Is love of life to perish in the dust ? 

Must thirst for knowledge in the grave expire ? 
Will mind's bright key be marred by mortal rust ? 

No more to open chambers of desire ? 
Does God, who kindles thought, put out its fire ? 

And tantalize with hope the human mind ? 
Will pangs unknown and disappointment dire 

Crush expectation ; leaving all behind. 
Of goodness, truth and love, as chaff swept by the wind ? 

Will towering man majestic sink to sleep ? 

In unsubstantial dream to pass away ? 
And at his tomb, if any come to weep 

Where He his buried bones to meet decay, 
See taste in art and nature's best array. 

And symbols pointing to immortal thought ; 
And have no hope of coming rising day ? 

But, thinking him a dream — a nothing ! — fraught 
With all the " horrid hent " of faUing into naught ? 



46 ALMOND. 

The rending vail and rocks have been compell'd 

To witness for " The Christ " of saving grace 
The sun, which untold milHons have beheld, 

When Jesus died, from man did hide his face ! 
The green earth shudder' d as it moved through space ! 

See here the importance of the human soul ! 
What estimate did Jesus on it place ! 

He holds it higher than the orbs that roll ! 
Ah ! naught will quench the fire of its immortal coal ! 

Annihilation is unthinkable. 

Absurd extinguisher of conscious life ! 
To blot out from the mind both heaven and hell — 

To uncreate by retrogressive strife ! 
Or give to souls a suicidal knife ! 

Give non-existence, elements and laws ! 
A monstrous notion ; and, with mischief rife. 

It has no properties nor place nor cause. 
Can Time roll back his years? Can moments make a 
pause ? 

Immortal man is in himself a type 

Of life, unending in the world to come ; 
He blossoms here for fruit that will get ripe. 

And gathered be in gladness or in gloom ; 
For thoughts have echoes heard beyond the tomb. 

This truth is felt but often is ignored ; 
His laws of thinking indicate his doom. 

Probation's path has light upon it poured — 
Light of the spirit's fire, and of Holy the Word 1 



EARLY MANHOOD AND SKEPTICISM. 47 

The young are like the morn to coming day ; 

And hke the Spring to Autumn's reaping time : 
Seed sown in youth of '"truth and grace" will pay, 

Of harvestings, of " Harvest Home " sublime ! 
In that pure world where Satan, sin and crime 

Are never known ; where youth immortal there, 
Will joyous ever be in its own clime. 

Let then the young be trained with Christian care. 
That they in manhood's prime the Christian's good may 
share. 

Should little children all be swept away. 

This earth would feel the umbra of ecHpse ! 
No substitute could take their place ; for they 

Are life to joyous eyes, and ears and lips. 
And when the frost of death their budding nips, 

Transplanted are they where they die no more ; 
There immortality their youth equips, 

To live where ravages of Time are o'er, 
Their Saviour and their King forever to adore. 

Here youth, the middle-aged and the old. 

Are suitable to season, time and place ; 
But what gradations Heaven will unfold 

Among the saints is not for us to trace. 
From things we know ; in our develop' d case. 

Beyond the grave, when elemental strife 
Will be no more, where " we shall see His face," 

Not parents, children, friends, nor husband, wife, 
Will there be chief delight, nor there be " spice of life.'* 



ALMOND. 



PART III. 

Repentance and Regeneration. 



Sure he hath made us with such large discourse, 

Looking before and after, gave us not 
That capability and God-like reason 

To i-ust in us unused. Shakspeare. 

The man in heart and mind so fill'd with God ; 

So born of spirit that all doubts expire ; 
So washed, so purified, by Jesus' blood, 

As direct teachings of the word require. 
Complete in Christ and sanctified entire — 

And such perfection works the gospel plan. 
And this the spirit gives us to desire. 

In all that's good the Christian leads the van ; 
Such Christian is indeed "the highest style of man."' 



5° 



ALMOND. 



There came at times to Almond, in surprise, 

A glimmering light that reached his case forlorn ; 
Like cheering beam that visits weeping eyes, 

From orient brightness of the coming morn. 
" And can we truly be of spirit born ?" 

(He asked himself,) while passing through a scene 
Of cloud and storm, with heart repentant torn ! 

The Christian life and light which long had been 
To him a myth, were now more favorably seen. 

The mountain ranges hft their heads sublime, 

Up toward the empyrean, star-gemmed floor ; 
The pyramids are monuments of time ; 

The sun and moon idolaters adore. 
And lightning's liame and thunder's booming roar, 

And rainbow-beauty will but last awhile ; 
But man is rated infinitely more 

Than nature's works, or art, in grandest style ; 
He towers above them all with an immortal smile. 

The great Napoleon scaled the Alps for fame. 

To cope with Hannibal, who crossed before ; 
So Byron swam the Hellespont — the same 

Had young Leander done in days of yore. 
To meet his loved one on her native shore. 

Ambition lures its votaries to the field 
Of grand exploits, their idols to adore ; 

Their native soil no better crop can yield. 
Until they bow to Truth in " Holy Writ " revealed. 



REPENTENCE AND REGENERATION. 5 1 

Mere science in the carnal mind appears 

A scintillating light from Leyden jars ; 
A cold, dim shining of revolving spheres, 

Through telescopic views of midnight stars. 
Such light, without the spirit, often mars ; 

It cannot blot out guilt, nor save from crime. 
The gospel ImmortaHty unbars 

And opens Heaven to faith and hope sublime ; 
Reveals eternal life unmeasured here by Time. 

Repentance comes to man from goodness seen 

Of God, as in His Oracles revealed. 
The spirit's sword makes sin's conviction keen, 

When grace's might the ancient blade does wield. 
No truth like it in nature's flowery field, 

Will do to hold up as a Christian test, 
By which the peace of God in us is sealed. 

Through faith in Christ the conscience is impressed ; 
For God Himself in us is evidence possessed. 

He who has spread through space the starry sky, 

And governs worlds that roll and suns that shine, 
Has through His Son— in Jesus — brought us nigh. 

Two perfect natures do in Him combine ; 
Our .Saviour is both human and divine. 

The Son of God descending from above. 
To make us branches of the Living Vine, 

The truth divine in Him by faith we prove ; 
And learn that God is good and Christ in us is love. 



52 ALMOND. 

So Almond ceased in public to declaim 

Against the Bible and Atoning Blood ! 
He was arrested by the blessed name 

Of Jesus, central of all power for good, 
By word and spirit only understood ! 

It chased unprofitable thoughts away — 
Help'd to dissolve his melancholy mood, 

That he might hear what conscience had to say, 
Made brighter to appear his hopeful coming day. 

Green groves he loved to seek at sultry noon ; 

And shady elms where bubbled cooHng springs ; 
And lonely walks by light of midnight moon, 

Or under night's outspreading starry wings ; 
For so he felt in his imaginings. 

He dream'd of pearls and diamonds and gold. 
And realms more vast and bright than Saturn's rings ; 

Of angel histories, to him unrolled, 
And things not known on earth and never can be told ! 

At silent night, when slumber falls on men, 

Once, twice God speaks to them as in a dream ; 
He would instruction seal, though painful, then, 

To check the current of life's normal stream ; 
Withdrawing pride with its enticing theme. 

And though " our life abhorreth dainty meat," 
Much fresher than a child's our flesh shall seem ; 

And when we pray, the light of life to greet, 
God's ransom we shall find with meditation sweet. 



REPENTENCE AND REGENERATION. 53 

So Almond dream' d when silence reigned profound ; 

And Somniis soothed him in the arms of sleep. 
Naught then was heard save when the solemn sound 

Was uttered by Time's register, and deei) 
Succeeding silence then again would creep 

O'er all the scene, while sentinels on high 
Their vigils in the vault of night did keep. 

And lonely Cynthia smiHng in the sky, 
Bedecked with silver Hght the argent canopy. 

Night's spangled robe seem'd flung about the world, 

Held up by diamond buttons of the stars ; 
And sunbeam shafts of morn were swiftly hurled 

At belted Jupiter and ruddy Mars; 
And winged hours did open golden bars, 

To lead the day to sunset where it dies. 
With all its triumphs and its crimson scars ! 

God moves in all the vast surrounding skies, 
"Walks in the pestilence" and "on a cherub flies." 

'Twas on such calm, such stilly pensive eve, 

In dreams he sought where sleep the silent dead, 
No more to sicken, suffer or to grieve. 

Nor mourn again o'er hopes forever fled. 
An anxious mind his spirit here had led. 

To satisfy the longings in his breast. 
Some drops of sorrow on the grave to shed, 

Of one who oft his social hours had blest. 
But now had gone to dwell in Canaan's land of rest. 



54 



ALMOND. 



The moon and stars sublimely rolled along 

The broad blue arch of Heaven's etherial frame. 
His listening fancy heard seraphic song ; 

And suddenly a messenger there came, 
Borne on fleet wings of Heaven's Hving flame ; 

When, lo I The form of his departed friend, 
Its manner and identity the same, 

As o'er the grassy grave it seem'd to bend, 
When Almond here awoke ! His dream was at an end ! 

O ! how he wish'd to be of better mind ; 

The "good old way" in earnest to pursue ; 
He needed more than dreams this way to find. 

And Christian circles soon around him drew, 
As magnets kindred particles will do. 

Who, yielding to the spirit's drawing, whether 
Of great or small, if they be only true, 

Like birds of kind denoted by the feather, 
AVill feed and fly in flocks, in social groups together. 

" Sublime and beautiful " by Burk he read ; 

It led his fancy to some rays of hght. 
And Beattie, too, on "■ Truth " his thinking led. 

To clear the skeptic darkness from his sight. 
But books alone could not his heart make right ; 

He needed power coming from above. 
That he might in new nature take delight ; 

No more o'er barren wastes of doubt to rove. 
But dwell with God in peace, and feel His law of love. 



REPENTANCE AND REGENERATION, 55 

The very name of Jesus had a sound 

Not hke the sound of any other name ! 
It had a power that pierced his spirit-wound. 

A marvel was it, (to his thoughts became.) 
It seemed a present soul-surrounding flame ! 

Above all names yet spoken by the tongue ! 
To-day as yesterday the very same. 

It led his heart aright, opposed the wrong, 
And shall be jjraised in Heaven with one eternal song 1 

He thought on (xod and His eternal years ! 

And must immortal mind forever think, 
When central suns with their revolving spheres, 

Shall pass away, or to oblivion sink ! 

1 where shall I be then ? Upon the brink 
Of an abyssmal void without a shore ! 

Oh ! shall sin's final burning prison-link 
Confine me to some doleful dungeon floor, 
Where wrathful lightnings play and vengeful thunders roar? 

1 thought upon the Risen Crucified, 

Who came to bridge the gulf that sin has made. 
Through blood the great salvation to provide. 

So that a sure foundation might be laid. 
And for my soul a ransom price be paid ! 

The key stone that the gospel-arch combines, 
Is Jesus risen ! Be not, then, afraid ; 

For, by this fact has heaven afforded signs, 
Infallible — to save — of infinite designs ! 



56 ALMOND. 

I thought upon the Resurrection morn ; 

When bodies dead, of all departed souls, 
Shall rise to glory, or " contempt " and scorn ! 

The millions of the world's uncounted rolls, 
From earth's warm girdle to its frozen poles ; 

The buried armies in the deep, wide sea, 
Shall live again when Time his last bell tolls. 

For Time himself shall then " no longer " be ; 
And man have duly fix'd his final destiny. 

I thought upon the coming Judgment day ; 

" The Great White Throne " descending, occupied 
By Him who once did in a manger lay ! 

He will, in righteousness and truth, decide. 
And surely his decision will abide ! 

His enemies shall then be overthrown ; 
And all his followers with Him aUied 

Shall share the glory of the Father's Throne — 
Shall in his presence stand, "and know as they are known." 

So Almond thought, as from inspired pens, 

By way of Pitman's voice and " tongue of fire," 
Words came as rays collected through a lens — 

Intensified the flame of his desire ; 
To be brought up from horrid pit of mire ! 

He longed from sinful bondage to be free ; 
His started penitence became entire ! 

He "feared and trembled !"— bowed the humble knee 
To Him whose gracious truth had given him eyes to see !. 



REPENTENCE AND REGENERATION. 57 

The voice of Pitman is remember'd still ; 

His sermon was of purest gosj)el gold ; 
And it was sent a puri)ose to fulfill. 

'Twas tender, piercing, trumpet-toned and bold. 
Oh, how it did the congregation hold ! 

His voice possessed inimitable tones ; 
Like thunder loud, and louder still, it rolled, 

Responded to by penitential moans, 
As life and shaking came to " valley of dry bones." 

Most valiant for the truth was Cookman. too, 

And mighty in the gospel field of fight. 
In preachuig power his equals were but few ; 

His eloquence was in the spirit's might. 
He wore Truth's girdle as a zone of light ; 

A pulpit giant was he m those days. 
He was a polish'd shaft ; his sword was bright ; 

His arrowy words were like the solar rays. 
Assestes arrows Hke — swift-winged — took fire — did blaze! 

There was in Cookman's eye a striking glance, 

PecuHar to his eloquent appeal ; 
x\s sunbeams thrown from warrior's shining lance. 

Would inward fire of energy reVeal ! 
His glowing heart its flame could not conceal. 

Such preaching aided Almond to decide 
For God — receiving his approving seal — 

Choosing in Christ, the bible for his guide, 
To, in the Christian course, eternally abide. 



58 ALMOND. 

As in a vision Christ to him appeared, 

From mountain summit bathed in amber Hght ; 
And He that was so greatly by him feared 

Had now become his soul's supreme delight ! 
His heart was changed ; he had a faith to fight. 

Eyes opened to behold the hopeful bow. 
A new and loving heart to do the right, 

An anxious mind the will of God to know — 
A will by faith resigned in Wisdom's ways to go.. 

His peace, abounding like a river, flows ; 

Entranced emotions keep all doubt at bay; 
To him the Spirit things of Jesus shows, 

And by them he is led to watch and pray — 
Reveahng clear the true and living way. 

This, precious thoughts at every moment, brings ; 
And, all his powers are in delightful play ; 

His faith, and hope, and love, have soaring wings. 
As, in a swoon, he hears " unutterable things !" 

'Twas on a lovely day in flowery June, 

In eighteen hundred thirty-three, his ear 
First caught the music of his heart in tune. 

When angels sent, seem'd singing, loving near — : 
Impressions gave him of a holier sphere. 

His fancy seem'd. at times to hear them sing ! 
His joyous smile was blended with a tear. 

To His bright world will Christ his people bring. 
To hail with Him, at last, rejuvenating spring. 



REPENTANCE AND REGENERATION. 59 

How beautiful to him beyond compare, 

The grove by healthful balmy breezes fanned ! 
Where preaching, praising and effectual prayer 

Were all obedient to the Lord's command ; 
And songs were sung that all could understand ! 

Then hearts were fashioned in the mould of love ; 
And praise was comely, from that happy band, 

As it resounded through the tented grove ; 
And did responsive chime with harmony above. 

The bird beat down by driving, drenching rain, 

When rising, flies with joy on eager wing, 
Basks in the sun and sings its sweet refrain. 

So Almond's heart released from sorrowings 
Sang in the light in hearing Christians sing. 

His love was new and warm in purity. 
It was a stream from Christ, the Living Spring ; 

It was of happy life the only key, 
To guide aright the soul to glorious destiny. 

Impressible and tender was he made. 

His nature yielding to atoning grace ; 
Although, unhappily, so long delayed. 

Camp meeting seem'd to him a happy place — 
The foliage flecking in the yellow rays ; 

The white of canvass with the leafy-green, 
And leaves all tongues made eloquent in praise ; 

The trees a cooling and a grateful screen 
To joyous multitudes within the circle seen. 



6o ALMOND. 

How changed is now the scene ! That grove is gone ! 

Those multitudes are gathered there no more ! 
There, now, the viUa and the verdant lawn. 

With iaid-out street and avenue before 
The city spreads itself, till covered o'er 

With buildings grand, imposing to the view — 
Where Almond learned in spirit to adore 

The holy and the wise, the good and true — 
In Christ, who is his life ; who made his nature new. 

He knew that his conversion was entire ; 

And Almond never could this truth deny. 
'Twas witness'd by the spirit's holy fire ; 

And His pure testimony cannot lie ! 
By it God's children " Abba 1 Father !" cry. 

His change was sudden as the flying dart. 
Or vivid lightning's flash along the sky ! 

Though genuine, it only was a start « 

In all the life to come of a believing heart. 

By prayer and fasting he was led to see 

A something needed, more than was supplied. 
In his conversion ! All depravity 

Was not destroyed, when he was justified. 
Remains of sin did in him yet abide. 

He sought in cleansing blood their certain cure — 
The cure in which the soul is sanctified ! 

The Spirit fiUed his heart and made it pure, 
And gave the witness clear, that faith might hold it sure ! 



REPENTANCE AND REGENERATION. 6 1 

What simple truth, supporting saving faith, 

He in this needed double cure received. 
In it, indwelling sin received its death ; 

And witness testified of truth believed. 
He, doing this, the spirit was not grieved. 

He had an outfit for the Christian race, 
When weights were laid aside from doubt relieved. 

His trials did not hinder saving grace ; 
They qualified his heart and mind for time and place. 

His own crown-jewel was the pearl of price ; 

His heart, the casket, where it was enshrined. 
He gloried in the cross of sacrifice. 

Rejoicing in the '' meek and lowly mind," 
To him in all things Providence was kind. 

"Old things had pass'd away" — "all things were 
new ;" 
In every change he did contentment find ; 

Made keenly conscious of the good and true. 
Created things around were beautiful to view. 

The Wesleys' writings with delight he read. 

Their sermons, hymns and journals were designed 
To furnish hunajrv souls with living bread, 

So suitable to every class of mind. 
The high, the low, the musical in kind. 

Have testified or sung with heart and voice ; 
And brought abundant blessings on mankind. 

Their teachings have been with "a joyful noise," 
Making the wilderness and desert to rejoice. 



62 ALMOND. 

Ah ! surely man is totally depraved ; 

So sunk, his nature has no strength to rise; 
Yet to the uttermost he may be saved, 

Through merit of atoning sacrifice — 
The blood of Jesus — the demanded price — 

To glorify the Father in the Son. 
So man can now, belie vingly, be wise ; 

In God's own saving way by faith to run ; 
And with the sanctified to be in spirit one. 

I'o hero-worship man is ever prone ; 

And yet his fellow man he would enslave ! 
He would be lost if he were let alone. 

The fall brought over him its whelming wave. 
Its tide of downward power he cannot brave. 

In his own being destitute of good. 
So lost, his nature will not succor crave. 

Insensible to law of rectitude. 
In light by Christ alone his case is understood. 

As magnet draws the needle to the pole ; 

As planets are attracted by the sun ; 
So does the holy spirit draw the soul, 

To show it how eternal life is won ; 
And how it may the Christian journey run. 

Before it good, and bad, and false, and true, 
Give tests of moral choosing to be done. 

No merit is required by what we do ; 
In faith's unselfish path we holiness pursue ! 



REPKNTENCE AND REGENERATION. 63 

No theories can teach the work of faith. 

An act of God blots out the guilt of sin ! 
Sin's inward life receives its sudden death 

By love of God, which purifies within ! 
So purity must suddenly begin. 

No gradual beginning ! work divine, 
Experience gives of grace our souls to win. 

By faith we fight our battles on this line ; 
And facts are sudden things that with our faith combine. 

The Truth that saves is in the Word revealed, 

To such as seek it at the throne of grace ; 
The world, the tlesh, and satan, in the field, 

Would soon make havoc of the human race. 
But Jesus has a mediatorial place ; 

And Almond found it by a living faith ; 
In Him he found true wisdom to embrace — 

The written word and what the spirit saith ; 
And hope of glorious home beyond the vale of death. 

Experience is a constant, living stream 

Observant theory cannot explore ; 
A needed, conscious, heaven-inspiring theme, 

That has rich blessings constantly in store. 
But theory is inference — no more ! 

It does not live fike faith, on vital power. 
Although it may be deep in learned lore ; 

Experience is feasting every hour. 
And yields a patient life that trials do not sour. 



64 • ALMOND. 

Experience declares : "a double cure " 

For sin is in " the great salvation " found. 
Forgiveness first, and next the heart made pure. 

When theory conflicts it is not sound. 
Experience is built on solid ground ; 

It is the word of God within revealed. 
While Reason's Theory does sometimes wound, 

The Christian's faith is his defensive shield ; 
With Gilead's Balm supplied are all his bruises heal'd. 

The power of faith is in the truth believed. 

The heart, the will, the tongue, to God resigned • 
Then will the spirit's witness be received ! 

Then will be ours the meek and lowly mind ; 
Then rest we have with active zeal combined ; 

With all our carnal tendencies destroyed. 
Contented, calm, with every thought refined, 

And purity of motive unalloyed. 
And then will perfect love in fulness be enjoyed. 

llie work begun, we perfect holiness, 

By trampling all our foes beneath our feet. 
From flesh and spirit all " of filthiness," 

Making our temper and our spirit sweet. 
To stand in Christ, believingly, complete ; 

And live in harmony in Beulah's land ! 
With wisdom's pleasant pathways prospects greet. 

By sunny, fragrant, healthful breezes fanned — 
'Mid scenes unclouded, fair declectable and bland. 



REPENTANCE AND REGENERATION. 65 

So Almond stood upon Salvation's Rock ; 

Beneath it was his unbelief entombed. 
A way cast up m which no stumbling block 

His faith and usefulness to failure doomed. 
As " Sharon's dewy rose" the desert bloomed ; 

And all the air was balmy, soft and bright. 
By heavenly blossoming it seemed perfumed ; 

His heart was filled with new and pure delight ; 
And time did seem to move more rapid in his flight. 

How zealous was he that he souls might win. 

His mother that had been to him so kind — 
O ! how he prayed she might be saved from sin. 

'Twas hard, his " mother old " to leave behind. 
" O ! give her, Lord, a willing, praying mind, 

With me to journey in the good old way," 
He prayed ! She said, " The Methodists are bhnd ; 

They sing, and s/iont, and cry, d.\\^ preach, ^x\^ pray i 
From such deluded folks I'd rather keep away." 

" O, let not prejudice becloud your mind 

And turn your heart from God before you die. 
The saving grace you need you yet may find. 

Though old, I hope you will to Jesus fly." 
He, weeping, said ; but she made this reply— 

" Now, John, the -Methodists have crazed your braiii,. 
There is a strange appearance in your eye.'' 

She read her bible, prayed ; then read again— 
Soon, like her crazv son. became herself insane/ 



'66 ALMOND. 

My mother spoke to me some pleasant words — 

In Dutch — and "joined the Methodists" of choice ! 
Tells her experience, which joy affords; 

And makes her son vehemently rejoice ! 
And mother's not offended at the noise ! 

My wife did not continue long behind ! 
She gave her witness with decided voice — 

Was glad her husband had the spirit's mind ; 
And he was glad himself, for so had God designed ! 

His wife with him was perfectly allied — 

Encouraged him in heart the taith to hold ; 
This made his field of usefulness more wide, 

For warm love, working, never does grow cold 1 
It makes the humble workers still more bold, 

While they delight themselves in its employ ; 
For excellence of love cannot be told ; 

It is celestial gold without alloy ; 
Its strength to work for God is in its holy joy. 

So Almond loved his God-appointed lot — 

To be a worker in Emmanuel's land. 
By him his past life cannot be forgot — 

How Jesus led him by His guiding hand. 
By grace, through time, he does expect to stand. 

Till trials are no more nor chast'ning rod; 
And hours not measured are by running sand. 

No sickness there, nor loved ones 'neath the ^od, 
But life in many mansions for the saints of God. 



repentp:nce and rkgenera^ion. 67 

God gives to man the gracious power of faith. 

That he in heart may savingly beheve ; 
As air suppHes our lungs with vital breath ; 

And breathing momently we life receive ; 
So Hfe in Christ behevingly we live. 

Life, first, then come by faith enlightened eyes ; 
And every blessing heaven deign's to give. 

Kind providence a need somewhere supplies. 
To di^w the soul from earth to mansions in the skies. 

Those mansions will denote what has been done 

By us on earth in honor of the Lord. 
As one star differs from another one, 

So difference will appear in this regard ; 
And faith, through grace, will meet its due reward — 

Where perfect equity will be displayed. 
In strict accordance with the holy word ; 

Where attributes divine will be arrayed, 
In glory bright to all without a dimning shade. 

Oh ! what is life without the love of God ! 

Without one glance of heaven's approving smile ? 
Environed by the lusts of flesh and blood ; 

Such Hfe to linger here a little while. 
Through unbelief for satan to beguile, 

That souls to all eternity may die. 
God will divide " the precious from the vile." 

Since by atoning blood we are ''brought nigh," 
O let us be prepared to dwell with (rod on high. 



ALMOND. 



PART IV. 

Call to Preach, and Christian Experience. 



O, thou great Arbiter of life and death, 
Nature's immortal immaterial sun, 
Thy call I follow to the land unknown. 

Young. 

As man needs God, he needs the Church of God ; 

He needs the blessed Christ and written Word ; 
He needs the merit of atoning blood ; 

He needs the knowledge of his risen Lord, 
By which his moral image is restored. 

He needs to hear the preacher's Hving voice ; 
And feel the word to be the Spirit's sword ; 

He needs the truth presented to his choice, 
To be immortal food that never, never cloys. 



70 



ALMOND. 



The Christian Church, with Christ her Hving head, 

Has enemies of strength encased in mail ; 
Yet by a stronger Leader she is led ; 

His foes against Him never can prevail ; 
He shall not know discouragement nor fail. 

By his true Spirit do his people know 
That all against Him finally shall fail. 

They of his kingdom shall forever grow, 
And make their boast alone in what He does bestow. 

No goodness can, in truth, be brought to bear 

Against the Bible, and its common cause. 
Religion and its genesis are there ; 

And it contains the whole of wholesome laws. 
Its saving truths revealed contain no flaws ; 

It stands against all evils in mankind ; 
It changes not ; it is what first it was ; 

Dishkes to it are from the skeptic mind ; 
And skeptic folly leaves its fretful fruit behind. 

God loved the world. He left it not alone ; 

But gave His Son — " the new and living way" — 
To turn humanity from sin, now prone 

From God and happiness to go astray. 
Let battering sunbeams on the iceberg play, 

And hardness yields and ice to tears do move ; 
And stubborn coldness feels the melting sway ; 

So power, through Jesus, coming from above, 
Dissolves man's mountain sins in seas of boundless love. 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 7 1 

Nor heighth, nor depth, nor length, nor breadth can tell 

The love of God in Jesus for the world — 
For man immortal who in Adam fell, 

And from the bliss of Paradise was hurled. 
The banner of the Cross is now unfurled. 

So mindful is He of his creature man ; 
For this the skeptic lip of scorn is curled ! 

Ah ! never since the " course of time " began, 
Has love so been unvailed as in the gospel plan. 

" Elect and precious " is probation's school ; 

Nor pearls nor shining gold ecHpse its blaze. 
The living Church ! (I mean) is beautiful, 

While it reflects in Christ the maker's praise, 
Like Hermon's dew drops in the morning rays. 

And do not angels mingle with its fold ? 
And rolling on are coming brighter days, 

When o'er the world Hfe's waters will be roll'd ; 
And faith of millions tried will shine as beaten gold. 

From God on Almond came the gospel call. 

To take his fighting armor from the Word, 
As watchman " Hfted up " on Zion's wall 

Of helmet, breastplate, girdle, shield and sword — 
Of preparation, gospel-shoes afford, 

To Christian soldiers fighting on the ground, 
Laid out for battle for our gracious Lord ! 

And wo to him if ever he be found. 
With trumpet giving blast of an uncertain sound 1 



7 2 ALMOND. 

Surcharged with lightning is the thunder cloud 

That o'er the pulpit hangs with showers of grace ; 
With mercy's burden are the heavens bowed — 

God's glory showing in the Saviour's face. 
To save the millions of the human race ! 

In Christ the preacher must be qualified. 
His friends to rally and his foes to chase. 

He as "a branch" must in "the Vine" abide ; 
Or broken off shall be for burning thrown aside ! 

The call of God was on his conscience laid — 

The will of God to do — and not his own — 
He deeply felt his call must be obeyed. 

It was not something he could leave alone. 
He must not occupy a selfish zone. 

The Church did echo what was in his mind. 
A witness coming from the Holy One ; 

So Almond thought his brethren came to find 
His call was not conceit ; it was of heaven designed. 

What is true preaching of the gospel theme ? 

Oh, is it naught but pulpit-eloquence ? 
Of soft word — milk without the gospel-cream ? 

When it should give the word the Spirit's sense ? 
Such exposition is its own defense. 

The Spirit in the preacher makes him clear. 
The value of true preaching is immense ; 

It brings to penitents the kingdom near — 
To all who hear its truths with a believing ear.- 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 73;; 

The college-bred are tempted to despise 

The preachers whose advantages were less ; 
Self-culture is offensive in their eyes. 

Their own "high learning" seems for selfishness. 
To sway a scepter ; others to depress ! 

Self-cultured men by them are " disallowed ;" 
Such did poor " Bunyan in his den " distress ! 

And yet he saw the bow "set in the cloud" — 
For Pilgrim's Progress here though hated by the proud. 

Mere educated talent cannot preach ; 

Though having learned theology the best, 
The Spirit qualifies the soul to teach 

How Christ will give the " heavy laden " rest ; 
And how the laboring needy may be blest. 

In hearts made pure is saving doctrine held ; 
The preacher call'd, and guided by this test, 

Will have false notions from his mind expell'd ; 
And by the love of Christ in all his work impell'd. 

He will love study in his Master's cause, 

Or he will go without the Spirit's mind ; 
He'll stand against all elements and laws, 

That preachers, to consistency do bind ; 
For indolence has tendency to blind. 

God, in the preacher will the preacher own, 
By faith the beaten Gold of Truth we find ; 

Then will good seed by heart and tongue be sown, 
And God be glorified in harvest from it grown. 



74 ALMOND. 

The truly called, according to the Word, 

Should definitely realize their call ; 
Be sensible of heart and conscience stirred, 

For disobedience here may hazard all 
Of saving power. Then, is it not to fall 

From grace, to disregard the Will Divine ? 
To blur the prospect of life's coronal, 

The faithful preacher will always decline ; 
That would misleading be — diverging from this line. 

The uncalled preacher is a stumbling block. 

The blind are sometimes " leaders of the blind." 
They do not stand upon the Christian's Rock — 

Have not the heart renewed, nor are inclined 
To have, from Christ, " the meek and lowly mind.' 

But, God has called. The true in Him abide ; 
Through coming ages this the Church will fmd. 

True pastors Christ will have to Him allied ; 
And He will be to them their Comforter and Guide. 

Itinerant hfe I lived till seventy years 

Their fleeting rounds of my probation run. 
My burdened heart would find rehef in tears. 

I never owned a horse, nor dog, nor gun ! 
My life for God, was not a sporting one ; 

Revivals I rejoiced in everywhere ; 
No better things I craved beneath the Sun ; 

A treasure rich, not wasted in the air — 
Ko salaries on earth can with their worth compare. 



CALL TO PREACH AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 75 

Oh, men have preached for mercenary hire ! 

Or for the gilded, bursting bubble, fame. 
Almond so loved the Spirit's holy fire — 

Its comforting and purifying flame — 
He could not bear the load of heaven's blame 

For sordid gain ! He could not barter all 
His conscious peace of mind. The Blessed Name 

He could not thus blaspheme for " money-call." 
See Balaam's " wages " loved. See Balaam's final fall ! 

In all the " charges " he has occupied 

He had substantial, sympathising friends 
Of Christian character, that will abide 

When all vain sublunary friendship ends. 
For what comes of the Spirit, God defends ; 

And no occasion in his life was made 
By conduct such as Christian union rends ; 

By him were comphments severely paid 
To such as proudly cast religion in the shade ! 

Almond was favored with a faithful wife — 

"A good thing" — such as coming from the Lord— 

A needed help-mate in itinerant fife ; 

Who did with him in sympathy accord — 

Did by her ways encouragement afford — 
A keeper much at home — no tattler— she 

Was careful, modest, and discreet in word- 
In work domestic, " busy as a bee ;" 
She says that " cleanHness is next to piety !" 



76 ALMOND. 

He is convinced that every Christian man, 

And every minister — should have a wife ! 
And this through grace (God helping him) he can ; 

And have a home in dear domestic life. 
The family-altar is with influence rife — 

In training children for a useful field. 
Domestic bliss would calm the waves of strife, 

To which unmarried ones so often yield. 
That man should have " one wife" is will of God revealed 

"Far above rubies" is the price of her 

Whose heart and life the Lord does choose to own ; 
Such godly wife the preacher should prefer 

To some poor, fashionable, idle drone 
That disregards the test that God has shown ! 

As wisdom's righteous crown that decks her brow, 
Should women preach ? If by approval done 

Of God, why not ? Are souls converted ? How 
Dare we God's will to doubt or truth to disavow ? 

Strong, then, was Almond in his prime of years. 

His sky was clear and full of sunny smiles. 
His joy was great ; his sorrow, preacher's tears. 

Three Sabbath sermons, walking twenty miles, 
Kept him from idleness — which some beguiled ! 

His rest he found on Monday, walking home ! 
Through woods, o'er streams, through deep and dark 
defiles 

His travels lay — where Indians once did roam ! 
But seed then sown in tears to harvesting has come. 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 77 

His means were slender, his ^' allowance " small ; 

And large his family that look'd to him 
For raiment and support. God saw it all ! 

And though his means for daily bread were slim, 
And prospect of increasing wealth was dnii. 

Yet were all necessary wants supplied. 
We live on promise, and within its rim 

The Lord will, for our daily bread, provide. 
So Almond told his wife — for he was satisfied. 

His toil was owned of God, the Church increased ;- 

And in his breast was Heaven's approving seal !- 
He found soul riches in the Gospel Feast ; 

It satiated hunger and did heal 
All moral maladies ! To him it did reveal 

The things of Christ in ways of Providence. 
Against this verdict there is no appeal. 

In place of fear of want, a gracious sense 
He had, by faith in Christ his sure and strong defense. 

It is not modest, nor discreet, nor wise, 

To revel in our own laudation dreams 1 
See how a woman led the godly spies ; 

And by a scarlet thread her person deems 
Secure ! So little rippling, running streams. 

That flowing, fertiHze Emmanuel's land. 
All merit is in Jesus, who redeems. 

No saving power but in His mighty hand — 
Submitting to His will, is doing his command. 



78 ALMOND. 

Of all religions that the world contains, 

There is but one that truly is divine ; 
And that is Christ's ! The fruit of human brains 

Are all the rest ! And they must meet decline ; 
For their foundations are of bad design. 

The light of Christ their darkness will destroy ; 
For it will never, never cease to shine ! 

Its fire will purify from base alloy ; 
Its spreading, "cleansing wave" will fill the world with joy. 

Behold the Temple Solomon did build ! 

The sacred wonder in the days of old. 
Skill'd workmen did its ninety chambers gild, 

Its roof and holy place did flame with gold ! 
Within, without, stupendous to behold ! 

The precious metals and the costly stones 
Weighed more than twenty thousand tons, twice told ! 

Much more the wealth the faithful Christian owns 
Than jewelry of kings, their temples, gold and thrones ! 

Nor art, nor empire, nor magnificence. 

In nature's wide, unbounded realm displayed ; 
Nor wealth in thought contained of time and sense ; 

Nor splendors to angelic minds arrayed — 
When they beheld this world's foundation laid ; 

Nor wond'rous things in the " stupendous whole ;" 
Nor all of Nature's works that God has made — 

Their preciousness entire, could we unroll, 
Would not compare with Christ in spirit in the soul ! 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 79 

Religion is not liable to change ! 

So all-supplying there can be but one ! 
Its precious nature takes unbounded range — 

'Tis like the admired sameness of the sun ! 
What it contains not it is wise to shun ! 

Immense and round all colors in its Light, 
Through man's nnmortal journey it will run ! 

Its faith will make the darkest prospect bright ; 
Like golden sun by day — like silver moon by night. 

Nor tongue, nor pen, nor pencil can unfold 

The boundless good believing can secure ; 
Nor ear can hear, nor mortal eye behold, 

What things of truth has Heaven to allure. 
What happy life forever to endure 

To such as choose to be of Spirit born, 
And have their nature sanctified and pure. 

Who make this present life the "dewy morn" 
Of coming day, when crowns the righteous will adorn. 

Almond was pleased to find reUgion true — 

All opposition founded on a lie ! 
Like pure simplicity in boundless blue. 

Showing the naked beauty of the sky. 
So does religion evidence supply; 

Its beauty and its truth are in its Light; 
Its fountain and its streams are never dry ; 

Like rays in drops of dew, it makes us bright ; 
Or, like the lightning's flash on blossoms seen at night. 



8o ALMOND. 

The Spirit does celestial forage bring, 

In " bread of Heaven," for immortal souls ; 
In streams from " smitten Rock " of Zion's springs, 

While o'er life's shifting sands Time's current rolls,. 
Oft dashing human barks on hidden shoals, 

That lurk unseen, along the dangerous coast. 
In every murmuring blast the death-bell tolls, 

Telling that souls the sea of life have crossed — 
Are with the saints in bliss ; or, with the hopeless, lost i 

The probable should be the guide of life, 

In truth and wisdom, goodness, everywhere — 
Avoiding folly and dishonest strife. 

To reach possessions of the millionaire — 
Ambition's vain, corrupting crown to wear. 

How blind the choice, to crave the guilty load 
Of love of riches, and of " miser care." 

To slight the " easy yoke," and pleasant road, 
In selfishness extremes to feel its piercing goad. 

Such thoughtful views came over Almond's mind ; 

For Christ, with him, did all of earth outweigh ! 
Eternal truth, by man, must reach mankind, 

The saved alone can show the saving way. 
But some he saw would yield to downward sway 

Of bhnding error and unblushing crime ; 
Yet joyful did he feel the Spirit's ray. 

Showing the nearness of a coming time. 
When Jesus will be known in every zone and clime. 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 8 1 

True doctrine in its spirit must be taught 

To see the blood that blots out guilt of sin ; 
For Christ within starts purity of thought, 

And pure religion does by faith begin, 
With the Holy Spirit witnessing within. 

The Comforter does in the conscience shine, 
Imparting strength the victory to win ; 

According to the Gospel's grand design. 
To work this central good, all things of grace combine. 

The Spirit's culture aids the Christian mind, 

To work with God in his appointed field ; 
He never sanctions ignorance. But blind 

Is unbelief, opposing Truth revealed ; 
True learning helps to make a better yield ; 

And virtue finds in ignorance no friend ; 
Against all goodness is the conscience steeled 

By it ; but knowledge works a gracious end ; 
It aids the vail of doubt and sophistry to rend. 

The Christian and the skeptic must abide 

The opposite, direct antipodes ; 
In spirit and in motive they collide ; 

Then opposite will be their destinies ; 
For unbelief with Jesus disagrees. 

The Christian's knowledge wisely guides him on ; 
But skeptic ignorance no beauty sees 

In Christian truth to build its hopes upon ; * 

But blindly rushes down where vain ones long have gone 



82 ALMOND. 

Contented ignorance of blinded souls, 

Self-blinded, slighting life of endless years, 
Turning all blessings into burning coals. 

All feelings into thorns and fruitless tears. 
And sacrificing all that life endears ; 

While love, and truth, and holiness, and heaven, 
Would banish all their pains, and doubts, and fears, 

They choose a life impure and unforgiven — 
To be the sport of chance, by whims and phantoms 
driven. 

Like rolling stone of Sisyphus of old. 

Their treasure but tormenting labor brings ; 
The conscious truth they sell for love of gold ; 

And all their faculties are turned to stings ; 
They poison thought with vain imaginings. 

In pride arrayed against the wise and pure. 
They riches love, that make departing wings ; 

They shun the way that makes enjoyment sure — 
That never disappoints and always will endure. 

Suppose a spot on earth, high-walled around, 

Where none but thorough skeptics would reside; 
Let not one Christian principle be found 

Among those sons of vanity and pride ; 
Let all of Christ his teachings be denied. 

No bow of hope would ever gild their skies ; 
No Sabbath day nor Bible for their guide ; 

No friendships dear, no holy kindred ties; 
No source of endless bHss where pleasure never dies. 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRLSTIAN EXPERIENCE. 83 

What bloody work has skepticism wrought ! 

In past, deluded, unbelieving France 
Free speech was choked; and poisoned springs of 
thought 
Bade "Terror's Reign" of " Reason" to advance! 
Checking all good, foul evil to enhance. 

Then ran red torrents from the guillotine ! 
To falhng heads there was a skeptic dance. 
Of powers that dyed the waters of the Seine. 
E'en women cried, "more heads" to feed the dread 
machine ! 

Such horrid work is anti-Christian boast ; 

Such are the issues of its putrid sore ! 
What barren island with its dreary coast, 

Where waves by storms are dashing on its shore, 
And where self-blinded islanders ignore 

The Bible-chart — its light of guiding star ! 
No compass their' s by which to steer them o'er 

The sea of Ufe ; their faculties they mar, 
And spoil their souls for bHss in Happy Land afar. 

Rejecting Christ, what reasonings prevail ? 

Rejecting Christ, what benefits arise ? 
What does the strife of infidels avail ? 

Oh ! tear away the bandage from their eyes ! 
Let naked facts be seen without disguise; 

Can there be honest doubting hate sustained 
Against the Lord's atoning sacrifice ? 

What good has unbeHef for man obtained ? 
By what opposing truth has Christ been e'er arraigned ? 



84 ALMOND. 

Is not the Gospel scheme without a flaw ? 

Is not its purpose of the highest aim ? 
Does it not harmonize with perfect law ? 

Does it not have a universal claim 
On all the world ? Are sinners not to blame 

For non-reception of the grace divine ; 
So freely offered in the blessed name ; 

According to the Gospel's grand design ? 
To work this central good all things revealed combine. 

Right words are forcible when they relate 

The fruits of grace in faith's experience ; 
The pardoned purified and joyous state. 

Then words convey a spiritual sense — 
Experience of hope's craved recompense. 

Of heaven's reward, when righted all that's wrong. 
On all the glory there shall be defense, 

And pure and truthful every saintly tongue ; 
And all will join to sing the "new" immortal song. 

Unsaved humanity is unconcerned 

About the things of spirit and of faith ; 

Such things are "foolishness" and not discerned, 
While in the "gall of bitterness" and death, 

Such have no knowledge what the Spirit saith. 
There is no heartfelt natural desire 

To breathe the spirit's vitaHzing breath. 

We do not start in us the sacred fire ; 
God's love in us reveals what we in Him admire. 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE. 85 

God's thinking in His oracles revealed 

We need by heart experience to know ; 
And as a lamp keeps not its light concealed, 

So will we wish our heavenly light to show ; 
Desiring all the saving way to go. 

Obeying, we lead others to obey, 
And by our influence to the spirit sow, 

Thile walking in the ''strainght and narrow way;" 
Thus Almond preached the truth throughout his preach- 
ing day. 

The mountain, lake, the wide-spread, azure field 

Of boundless, beautiful and glowing sky, 
With all their furniture can never yield 

A purified and peaceful conscience. Why ? 
They answer not to Nature's helpless cry. 

Through "Jesus only," can salvation come, 
And none but God our souls can satisfy. 

To all our wants of soul is Nature dumb ; 
In Christ we are supplied — Faith's precious, boundless 
sum. 

Almond can say, " I need Thee every hour." 

And yet in Christ all need is well supplied. 
As vital air abounds, the saving power, 

Fining and touching him on every side. 
He thus hemmed in, is to His Hfe alHed, 

A child of God, — is by the Spirit led. 
He has a Christ within that does abide ; 

The bride prepared is to the " Bridegroom " wed. 
The gold of Grace prevails and Nature's dross has fled. 



•86 ALMOND. 

True preaching is the utterance of thought, 

With kindled feelings and a tongue of flame ; 
With witness of regeneration wrought ; 

And how by faith this true experience came, 
Regarding not the flattery of fame. 

'" Clothed with humility," renouncing pride ; 
And such true preaching never will be tame, 
For self, not Christ, is in the Word denied ; 
And God, His own loved Truth, to " hearing ears " will 
guide. 

So Almond's principles are orthodox ; 

For Grace does lead his reason to the Light. 
He knows by faith the Christian paradox — 

That weakness felt, is spiritual might. 
And faith-love working is a faith of fight ; 

The Sword that kills does make alive again ; 
It has two edges and is always bright ; 

Its conquering ones are of the happy slain ! 
They die that they may live. They serve that they may 
reign. 

The heart is purified with holy fire, 

And this the sanctified experience brings. 
Aside from this what can the best acquire, 

To qualify for preaching ? Fancy's wings. 
In flights may please where no conviction stings 
The guilty. But the meek and lowly mind, 
• We learn of Jesus- not of earthly things — 

The saved, the call'd, the tried, through grace re- 
signed. 
Who all complete in Christ for all their work they find. 



CALL TO PREACH, AND CHRISTIAN EXPERIF:NCE. 87 

It gladdens Christian hearts to feel assured, 

The day is coming when the glorious Lord 
Will show the glory of the Cross endured ; 

As He has promised in His Sacred Word, 
That war shall cease to wield the cruel sword, 

And "Christ the Righteous" will the scepter hold; 
His Spirit make all minds of one accord, 

His peaceful Banner be o'er all unrolled, 
And He reign King Supreme, as in His Word foretold. 

All men redeemed, all nations pure and true. 

O'er all the earth like dew-drops to the sun — 
Prospectively how lovely to the view — 

With image shining of the Holy One, 
Will see with joy millennium begun. 

More " beautiful -blue" will seem the skies 
When moral air is cleansed from clouds of dun ; 

A world of Christians, with anointed eyes. 
Will see as from the dead a new creation rise. 

Two kinds of life has double nat,ur'd man ; 

And two of death ; the last far more severe ; 
Life animal its being, too, began. 

When thinking life first started in its sphere ; 
The soul that thinks will never perish here ; 

It is aUied to immortaHty. 
This doth from oracles divine appear. 

That thinking life shall never cease to be ; 
'Twas not design'd for time but for eternity. 



ALMOND. 



PART V. 

Reflections and Anticipations. 



The joys of sense to mental joys are mean; 
Sense on the presence only feeds; the soul, 
On past and future forages for joy; 
'Tis her's by retrospect through time to range, 
And forward time's great signal to survey." 



YoKHO. 



The garnered grain from off Probation's field 

We carry with us through this race we run ; 
In perfect light to all will be revealed 

In that bright world beyond Hfe's setting sun ; 
Then destiny will show what has been done. 

The mind of Christ that Christians here enjoy 
Will be the measure of the trophies won ; 

The spirit's work, that here our powers employ 
Will be our heavenly gold unraingled with alloy. 



90 



ALMOND. 



Triumphant Church of saints approved of God, 

With angels joining in that sunny Land. 
The garnered wheat, that first beneath the sod 

Did die to come to Hfe, will joyous stand 
With millions glorified at God's right hand, 

On Canaan's borders beautiful and fair, 
With streams meandering over golden sand, 

Mid trees perennial and with fruitage rare. 
Immortal saints inhale ambrosial fragrance there. 

J O where is heaven's local dwelling place ? 

It is not in the region of the sun ! 

C^-n it be central in unbounded space ? 

Beyong night's circling sweep of shadowy cone? 
A green round world with bright and healthful zone ? 

Ah ! knowledge unrevealed we must not crave ! 
By faith in "things not seen" is victory won — 
In strength of him who has the power to save ; 
And he is now " our Hfe" — will be beyond the grave. 

Will not a sea of flame o'er earth be rolled ? 

"With fervent heat" shall not its substance burn? 
Shall not the saints "new earth" and skies behold? 

And shall they not to it again return 
To scenes to be recalled of Time's sojourn ? 

And where on earth their sinfulness confess'd. 
And they in sorrow did repentant mourn ? 

In bright, immortal bloom will earth be dress' d 
" The saints' secure abode," of " everlasting rest." 



REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS. 9 1 

Tha,t " world to come," will never know decay ; 

No heat, nor cold, nor solitude of night 
Will mar the pleasure of eternal day ; 

Nor dim the shining of celestial light. 
All objects there will feast the ravished sight ; 

White-robed and crowned Christ's millions will be 
there. 
O, happy ones, with prospects ever bright. 

With their high lot will any wealth compare. 
In that new sinless World, with skies forevej- fair ? 

Such place will suit the purified in heart — « 

Of Christ-hke qualities, and " willing mind." 
From it the saints will never more depart ; 

True social happiness they all will find; 
And recognition will affections bind — 

Friendships remember' d that were form'd in Time, 
Especially the holiest in kind. 

Our state will be adapted to the clime ; 
And simple beauty there will blend with the sublime. 

Calm retrospection is with interest fraught. 

When judgment, reason, memory, the will, 
With conscience purged, so exercise the thought. 

As wisely man his mission may fulfill, 
And stand redeemed on Zion's Holy Hill — 

Assert the saved condition of his soul, 
And praise the gracious power that keeps it still. 

So Almond loves the day that made him whole. 
Let not oblivion's waves neglected o'er it roll ! 



92 



ALMOND. 



The past he ponders, and he owns that One 

Has been his guide, on whom he now can lean ; 
For all the secrets of his heart are known 

To Him. And nothing that has ever been 
Can from His eye be hid. And Almond seen, 

Will see himself ; not left to errors blind. 
He will be gifted with a vision keen — 

Be permeated with the Spirit's mind. 
So things to come may wean from things he leaves behind. 

When old in years, and white with hoary hairs, 
He visited his childhood's home once more ; 

After the lengthy lapse of fifty years ! 

He saw but few that he had seen before ; 

His old acquaintance Time had thinned to four. 

The brook he knew — and mountains stand there still. 
The road and trees whose branches arch it o'er — 

There, near the race-way, stood the noisy mill — 
Near by his boyhood's home, now known as "Scarlett's 
Hill." 

The famed "High Point" and " Wim Beam's" far ofif 
brow, 

With entertaining greeting met his view ! 
Reminding of young days long gone ; and now 

He look'd again on things familiar to 
His young experience, " when all was new," 

To new-born eyes, then volatile and gay ! 
No cloud its shadow on his pathway threw — 

All his young friends and playmates, where are they? 
By Time's remorseless tide how are they swept away ! 



REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS. 93 

Yet was he pleased to look on scenes around. 

On wooded hill and valley, verdent knoll ; 
And meadow green, with yellow lilies crowned. 

The little lake like overflowing bowl, 
And things remembered o'er his spirit stole. 

He thought of farmers plowing in the field, 
When he desired that years should faster roll. 

But years have fled and he account must yield 
To Him by whom at last a righteous doom is sealed. 

When pilgrimage shall reach its earthly goal, 

Anticipation has its good in store. 
Hope's steadfast anchor to the faithful soul 

Will hold though stormy winds and waves may roar 
When cast "in that, within the vail" near shore; 

For triumph stronger than all strength beside, 
This is the God that Almond will adore ; 

And in His love determines to abide ; 
For Christ is his by faith his all-sufficient guide. 

Good things are coming with the march of Time, 

When gospel blessings will be scattered wide ; 
To peoples they will spread in every clime. 

To none will saving mercy be denied ; 
And none will Christian character deride. 

Whole nations will to Christian folds belong ; 
To Jesus will the millions be allied ; 

And in His strength be resolute and strong ; 
Delighting in His truth, resisting every wrong. 



94 ALMOND. 

None then will hurt in all God's holy mountain, 

And bound will Satan be " a thousand years ;" 
In "House of David" is an opened fountain ; 

Its streams will sweep away all guilty fears ! 
Then Jesus' hand will wipe away all tears, 

And old longevity will come again. 
O ! when the true millennium appears, 

Will not the entire world be His domain ? 
And Jesus be our King, " a thousand years to reign ?" 

"The spirits of just men made perfect" here,! 

Before they left probation's busy scene. 
Are now in Paradise — that bHssful sphere. 

All that in Heaven is felt, and heard and seen, 
They recognise undimmed by fleshly screen ; 

Their personal identity they own ; 
With memory inspecting what has been. 

They "know each other" as themselves are known, 
And loving, social, are, to goodness ever prone. 

Their bodies will be raised — the same, yet new — 

With senses suited to the saintly mind ! 
In seeing, hearing, of the good and true, 

xA-nd thinking will be excellent in kind ; 
But eating, drinking, breathing, we will find 

With " flesh and blood," not needed on that shore. 
No ties of consanguinity will bind 

In groups domestic ! — Better things in store! 
One family in Christ will be forever more ! 



REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS. 95 

The soul is fashioned for a thinking world, 

As in the human microcxDsm seen. 
It has immortal wings, to be unfurled 

In its own sunny Land of living green ; 
The memory will mirror what has been ! 

All its possessions be without decay. 
Its penetrating powers will be keen — 

Each live for others in a social way ; 
And Christ in all His saints will heavenly charms display ! 

Immortal mind has pictures on it made ; 

Such images will memory retain, 
And long, long after he is lowly laid. 

Will joyful thinking in his soul remain ; 
All life's impressions will revive again ! 

Yes, think, will Almond, what was thought before. 
His present life 's " old moon," will sink and wane. 

His sun immortal rise on brighter shore — 
Rise into cloudless day ; and risen, set no more ! 

• Borne on the waves of Time's unresting sea, 

His cause is onward, toward the shining Land ; 
His guiding star will never clouded be, 

For Zion's ship, he knows, is ably manned, 
And Jesus is the Captain in command ! 

A little while with rains his sails may drip, 
Before his bark may reach the golden strand ; 
His polar star of Truth will never '' dip," 
For He who guides all worlds is Captain in the shij) ! 



96 ALMOND. 

In memory's record are the pleasant days, 

When our domestic circle was complete. 
When all agreed to join in prayer and praise, 

And smiling gladness did each other greet ; 
And conversation made the moments fleet. 

The Bible reading aided to make wise ; 
Each one so doing as was counted meet ; 

Then from our family altar did arise 
Incense, at morn and eve, of grateful sacrifice ! 

Sad, sudden sorrow, in bereavement came. 

(Afflictions are the heritage of all, 
And grace will not exempt us from the same, 

The coffin, bier, the hearse and funeral pall, 
The silent grief, when tears unbidden fall. 

Of sympathizing friends in mourning deep. 
When Death, relentless, holds his carnival.) 

Almond's companion and himself did weep 
The loss of loved ones, lone laid in the grave to sleep. 

Two daughters and a son — their children — died. 

And two of them left each an orphan child. 
Grandparents, then, became the orphans' guide. 

Yet, they to Providence were reconciled ; 
For God does right. " Religion undefiled" 

Prepared each spirit as its vail did rend, 
To launch away upon a river mild. 

Its waves, with Glory's ocean seem'd to blend ; 
Each dying scene, we felt, had angels to befriend. 



REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS. C)J 

Through gentle dews and rains, and Summer suns, 

The earth is rich, attired in robes of green ; 
Then Ahiiond thinks of his departed ones, 

As faded leaves that once had lively been. 
But now were gone our hearts from earth to wean. 

So breeze, spice-laden, bears away the bloom 
Of youth. So stars melt in the blue serene 

At morn, and drops of dew, its beams illume. 
So did their souls ascend to shine beyond the tomb. 

When Winter's cold brings warp and woof of snow,. 

To weave dead Nature's shroud of purest white, 
He thinks of them that " moulder cold and low ;" 

Yet, high his thoughts aspire, to mansions bright. 
No clouds of sorrow there, nor gloom of night. 

The wealth of saints can never pass away. 
Kternal love gives feastings of delight, 

Amidst the millions basking in the ray 
Of God's own glorious noon of uncreated day. 

The greatest gift of Heaven on man bestowed 

Is Christ, the Giver of all gifts untold ! 
Aside from Him earth's "comfortless abode" 

Has nothing worthy of the soul to hold ; 
For jewels, pearls and diamonds, and gold, 

To such as be not of the Spirit born, 
Will not a needed treasure e'er unfold ; 

But Christ gives riches that will Heaven adorn, 
More fresh than sparkling drops upon the breast of morn. 



98 ALMOND. 

Had " pure religion," with its power divine, 

But swayed the miUions of our goodly land ; 
Had all been marching in the Christian line, 

The " red right arm " of war, with burning brand, 
Had not been raised ! Our Heaven wrought golden 
band, 

Binding, by law, the brave and noble free. 
Would have been held as Freedom's magic wand ; 

With bondage it disclaims affinity ; 
This band, that binds in love, exults in liberty. 

A Bible land ! And civil war. whose glare 

Discloses towns and homes in ruins he ! 
Then " mortal engines " shook the sulphurous air, 

Then curved red seams, lined clouds of midnight sky. 
Hoarse, then, was heard Rebelhon's battle cry : 

And armies huge defied our country's weal ! 
The young, the hopeful, brave, mtist do or die. 

This civil turmoil made the senses reel, 
Amid the clash of arms, the clang of deadly steel ! 

Attack on Sumter made a breach so wide. 

The best and bravest of our land did weep. 
They saw the Southern sun in crimson dyed. 

Betokening a storm of mighty sweep ! 
A war the famed and sunny South would steep 

In blood. Now giant forces beat to arms ; 
So liberty her heritage might keep. 

Her kindled fire the hearts of freemen warms ; 
They leave their wives and homes, their workshops and 
their farms. 



REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS. 99 

In justice they usurping power defying, 

Stood strong for (xod and land of Washington ! 
In freedom's march to have her colors flying — 

To have of right what sacrifice has won ; 
And onward still advance, as we begun 

To strike with might a sharp, decisive blow. 
As in the Revolution it was done, 

A man raised up we found ; he quelled the foe ; 
He had a strong, right arm to bend " Ulysses' " bow I 

Our braves were armed with consciousness of right. 

In dear defense of liberty and law ; 
Our sword in sun of truth reflected light ; 

This made our erring foe to stand in awe. 
And when the sign of victory they saw. 

They knew it virtue's triumph over crime ; 
Her sword will freedom from its scabbard draw, 

When perfidy menaces with its sHme, 
To taint the air that floats our stars and stripes sublime. 

. Truth brightens in the beams of freedom's sun ! 
See in it what a blessing, what a boon, 
The heritage our father's valor won ; 

Their morning-struggle led to our noon ! 
The serpant's coils we broke like laocoon ! 
Our arms Hke Hercules the Hydra slew ! 
Our day is Freedom's, and the wannig moon 
Of slavery's night will soon be hid from view. 
The sun that shines for all does freedom's soil renew. 



lOO ALMOND. 

The Maker and Disposer of mankind, 

Of all positions to be occupied, 
In Church and State, has in His will designed 

To give us rule infallible to guide, 
That we might be with Him, in truth allied ; 

For on true Christian principle is based 
The good of all. Oppressive, harmful pride, 

Must not have Christians in its schemes embraced ; 
Or, from the Book of Life their names will be erased ! 

The cherished sentiments, which Almond holds. 

Must be reflected on in life to come. 
For inward thought the outward action moulds, 

As fruit is issue of productive bloom ; 
As choice in thinking shapes for future doom ! 

Our seed-thoughts in the present life we sow ; 
Beyond, no sporting of the borrowed plume — 

Here, principle we love, and cherish — go 
To weave our destiny of happiness, or woe. 

As Noah, striving, overcame the flood ; 

As Moses guided millions through the sea ; 
As Joshua, that Nature understood ; 

Commanding sun and moon awhile to be 
* Still, standing to behold the victory, 

By faith ! As Prophets and as martyrs rose, 
In triumph, with their Lord, His realm to see, 

Leaving life's brightest triumph at its close. 
True champions, on the march to glory's long repose. 



REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPATIONS. lOI 

So Stood John Wesley, strong in gos})el mail 

For (tOcI, against the myrmidons of sin ; 
The work, through him, did mightily prevail ; 

Repentance did the gracious work begin. 
Revival, then, brought purity within. 

The Holy Spirit wrought his heartfelt creed ; 
For by the Word he labored, souls to win ; 

As he was led, he strove his flock to lead — 
Much better than in war on burnished steel to bleed ! 

God raised the Wesleys — they were pure and brave. 

To preach the truth, with energy divine ; 
Dead consciences to purge, and souls to save, 

And be the means of gracious light to shine. 
Singing experience, in its saving line I 

God saved His servants, •' to the uttermost," 
That heart with head in Jesus might combine, 

Like as the Spirit's work at " Pentecost," 
Their sermons and their songs were of the Holy Ghost I 

Our gospel is designed on earth to save 

From every sin, with Heaven's approving seal ; 
And Methodism will the billows brave. 

Of wasting stream of time, till earth shall reel ; 
Its vital power will many miUions feel ! 

That Christ, its leader, is its reigning King, 
And from His verdict there is no appeal ! 

To Him the ])raise of every good we sing; 
The holiness it spreads tlows from this saving spring. 



I02 ALMOND. 

So Methodism was for this designed : 

" To spread true HoHness throughout the Land ;" 
Transforming by its faith the heart and mind, 

That men complete in Christ by faith might stand ; 
All fired with love to do the Lord's command. 

It conquered Almond by its mode of fight ; 
And took all sceptic weapons from his hand ; 

And broke and buried them, to his delight, 
Gave him the light of life, that made his prospect bright. 

Christians in heart, of every sect and name, 

Should stand in Christ against oppressive wrong ; 
Momentous things demand, with loud acclaim. 

That citizens should stand in honor strong. 
To Christ all civil governments belong. 

Bad men, through Rum, do oft together join, 
To lead astray, by money, pen and tongue. 

And draw unwary Christians in their line ; 
Because they, hand in hand, do wickedly combine. 

Their pleasure is l)ut transitory tiame, 

Accompanied with ashes, cinders, dross ! 
Their wealth is mar'd, by " hunger-bitten " shame ; 

They fight against the doctrine of the Cross ; 
To prosecute the Soul's eternal loss ! 

Some promised things will people never find ! 
The epitaphs that lie beneath the moss. 

To give false hope to readers that are blind. 
That death may, too, deceive and ruin heart and mind. 



REFLECTIONS AND ANTICIPA'I'IONS. 103 

From snow-capp'd mountain see the stormy deep I 

The scooped out valleys, and the rounded hills 1 
Soft clouds, in summer, that great rain-drops wee}) ; 

And cold night-shadows that the dew distills. 
See dimples in the- cheeks of laughing rills; 

Hear birds of song, and see their plumage gay ; 
Behold the sunlight, that the landscajje fills ; 

See setting sun, in radiant array ! 
Morn's golden tresses twine about the brow of day . 

This world has beauties that are types but dim 

Of that high, holy world that is to come. 
That world of angels and of Seraphim 

Will be the place prepared — the lasting Home — 
Of God's redeemed, beyond their earthly tomb. 

In cloudless splendor there will Christians shine; 
And amaranth unfold immortal bloom. 

And emerald groves and living eglantine. 
The eye and ear will feast with beauties all Divine. 

The scenery in ^Heaven will be grand ! 

Where " Hving green," o'erarched with skies so fair. 
Will be inviting in that Sunny Land ; 

Where tears are wiped away with pain and care, 
Nor heat, nor cold, nor stormy clouds are there. 

There love's unfading treasures will abound ; 
There palms of victory will millions bear ; 

Joy-bringing will be every sight and sound, 
Immortal pleasure reign above, beneath, around. 



I04 ALMOND. 

To that bright Home will Jesus Almond Guide, 

His image leads to -'Crowns of Righteousness." 
" When he awakes he shall be satisfied." 

Increase of years makes not his comfort less. 
The Comforter is promised Age to bless. 

With patience he awaits the final call, 
And his immortal Resurrection dress. 

When done with earth the curtain. Death, lets fall : 
White-robed, he then shall wear life's fadeless coronal. 

Arrayed in light, eclipsing earth's renown. 

With Heavenly good his happy being blended. 

His risen sun will never more go down — 

- His days of mourning over, ever ended. 

Remember, then, he will the ways he wended 
Through trying scenes, to be repeated never ! 

The friends of Jesus that his soul befriended, 
Remember ? Yes ! for nothing shall dissever 
Such friendly ties in Christ, for they will last forever. 

Earth's favored ones are not exempt, from pain. 

As targets, they receive the shafts of hate I 
They oft " in splendid wretchedness complain ;" 

And in their grandeur they are desolate. 
O ! envy not, ye poor, the " famed, the great ;" 

For Faith's " true riches " compensate the best. 
Of gifts received through Heaven's golden gate, 

It yields believers sweet, unl)roken rest. 
And guides, securely on, toward Mansions of the Blest. 



REFLEC1"I0NS AND ANTICIPATIONS. r05 

So calm and pleasing is the light that brings 

The bright'ning prospect of unending good. 
That Almond's si)irit is endowed with wings ; 

His simple thinking is in solitude. 
He wants the words of Jesus understood. 

They satisfy his appetite so well ; 
For none but Christ can give substantial food 

To souls that think ! Who would his birthright sell 
For Koh-i-noors of earth, to think it o'er in Hell ! 

No more is Almond led astray by themes 

Of Volney, Kneeland, Paine and Palmer blind, 
And Shelley's visions, Byron's fancied dreams ; 

No more lead captive his bewildered mind : 
Delusions skeptical are left behind. 

"The Star of Bethlehem" his constant guide ! 
All forces evil, when arrayed combined 

To shake the ground on which he does confide, 
Are vain. His anchor holds till winds and waves subside. 

Untaught in Fable's Mythologic lore, 

He is conversant with the Spirit's laws, 
Which teach his heart Jehovah to adore ; 

And not to worship secondary cause. 
For He that lives, and ever is and was, 

Is Christ ! Blest fountain of what's good and wise. 
From Him pure rivers flow, without a pause ! 

To Him let grateful incense ever rise 
From such as shall be heirs of treasures in the skies. 



Io6 ALMOND. 

He takes delight to be with Christian men. 

iN[ot his are draughts from the Pierian Spring ! 
No hnes of fire are traced with burning pen ! 

From '• (rroves of Arcady," no whispering ! 
Nor starthng glance from lightning's flashing wing 

Arrests the fancy with its potent sway ! 
Yet, hear his tale. It has salvation's ring. 

There is in it displayed the saving way, 
That leads to great reward at Heaven's crowning day. 

He now must cease his desultory strain. 

'Tis time to bid his rustic lyre adieu. 
From pleasing, anxious exercise refrain, 

To think of Judgment in its grand review. 
" Innumerous as drops of morning dew," 

That concourse ! Heaven's arithmetic will tell 
How many shall have ])roved to Jesus true ; 

And tell of multitudes that would rebel ! 
Here cease his lingering lay. He bids a long farewell. 

A long farewell will reach beyond the grave. 

Where life will issue in immortal Spring ; 
Nor Summer sun, nor Winter's tidal wave, 

To such as here loved Mercy's sheltering wing. 
Will ever smite with heat, or coldness bring. 

There, housed in Heaven, the saints from time set 
free ; 
No pang of sorrow will their bosoms wring ; 

The unnumbered millions will in love agree, 
And bask in rays Divine, thorugh all eternity. 



THE END. 











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